virulence
noun [ U ] uk/ˈvɪr.ə.ləns/ us/ˈvɪr.jə.ləns/
（疾病的）致命性，严重性
the danger and speed of spreading of a disease
The virulence of the disease is causing great concern in medical circles. 这种病的高致命性已经引起了医学界的极大关注。
formal恶毒;狠毒
very strong feelings of hating or opposing something or someone
We are witnessing racism of a virulence that we haven't seen in Europe since the 1940s. 我们正在亲眼目睹欧洲自20世纪40年代以来从未出现过的恶毒的种族主义。