Which virus family includes mumps, measles, parainfluenza, and RSV?

• A. Adenoviridae
• B. Herpesviridae
• C. Paramyxoviridae
• D. Togaviridae

Answer: (C)

Measles, mumps, parainfluenza, and respiratory syncytial virus all belong to the same viral family because they share key features: they are enveloped viruses with negative-sense single-stranded RNA genomes. Within this family, measles and mumps are classic members (measles in the Morbillivirus genus and mumps in the Rubulavirus genus), and RSV and parainfluenza viruses are also grouped here (RSV is a Pneumovirus, parainfluenza viruses are other genera within the same family). Other listed families differ in genome type or structure: adenoviridae are nonenveloped double-stranded DNA; herpesviridae are enveloped double-stranded DNA; togaviridae are enveloped positive-sense RNA viruses (with rubella in that family). Thus, the family that includes all four viruses is Paramyxoviridae.