Dr Spooner's disposed of heart abscess caused by virus (4,4)

I believe the answer is:

cold sore

'abscess caused by virus' is the definition.
(cold sore is a kind of viral infection)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Another definition for cold sore that I've seen is " Facial outbreak of herpes virus".)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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