RNA virus

RNA virus is a virus that has RNA (ribonucleic acid) as its genetic material. This nucleic acid is usually single-stranded RNA (ssRNA), but may be double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Notable human diseases caused by RNA viruses include SARS, influenza, hepatitis C, West Nile fever and polio.

The ICTV classifies RNA viruses as those that belong to Group III, Group IV or Group V of the Baltimore classification system of classifying viruses.

Another term for RNA viruses that explicitly excludes retroviruses is ribovirus.