[Distribution of the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus in an endemic area]

Arenaviruses other than Lassa virus

The family Arenaviridae includes 23 viral species, of which 5 can cause viral hemorrhagic fevers with a case fatality rate of about 20%. These five viruses are Junin, Machupo, Guanarito, Sabia and Lassa virus, the manipulation of which requires biosafety level 4 facilities. They are included in the Category A Pathogen List established by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention that groups agents with the greatest potential for adverse public health impact and mass casualties whether a situation characterized by a ill-intentioned abuse of natural or engineered arenavirus would be encountered. The aims of this article are to (i) summarize the current situation; (ii) provide information to help anticipating the effects to be expected in such a situation; and to (iii) emphasize the need for fundamental research to allow the development of diagnostic, prevention and therapeutic tools as countermeasures to weaponized arenaviruses.

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus in southern France: four case reports and a review of the literature

Infections due to choriomeningitis virus have been only infrequently reported in humans. Most cases have been diagnosed during laboratory outbreaks in the USA and Germany. In this report, we describe 4 cases of acute meningitis due to choriomeningitis virus occurring after close contact with domestic syrian hamsters. Although the disease is usually mild, some fatal cases have been described. The purpose of this report is to alert physicians to the possibility of lymphocytic choriomeningitis in patients who have had close contact with Syrian hamsters.