What does the adjective 'virulent' often imply about a disease or toxin?

The adjective 'virulent' typically describes a disease or toxin that is extremely harmful, dangerous, or infectious. In the context of diseases, a virulent pathogen is one that has a strong ability to cause severe illness or death, often with a high capacity for transmission. This aligns with the idea that such a disease is highly contagious and can spread quickly amongst populations.

The term is often used in medical and biological discussions to emphasize the aggressive nature of pathogens, suggesting that they possess mechanisms that enhance their ability to infect and proliferate within hosts. Therefore, identifying 'virulent' with high contagion aligns well with the definition and implications of the term in medical literature.