How Do You Spell ARENAVIRUS?
Pronunciation: [ˈaɹɪnˌava͡ɪɹəs] (IPA) 
Pronunciation: [ˈaɹɪnˌava͡ɪɹəs] (IPA)
An arenavirus is a type of RNA virus that belongs to the family Arenaviridae. These viruses derive their name from the fact that they often have a sand-like appearance when viewed under an electron microscope, resembling small arenas. Arenaviruses are typically transmitted to humans through contact with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents, particularly certain species of mice. They can also be contracted through direct contact with aerosolized particles from rodent excretions or bites.
Arenaviruses are known to cause severe and often fatal illnesses in humans, such as Lassa fever and Argentine hemorrhagic fever. These illnesses manifest with symptoms like high fever, fatigue, muscle aches, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding, which can progress to organ failure and death. Although primarily found in specific regions, arenaviruses pose a significant global public health threat due to their potential for person-to-person transmission.
Being enveloped, single-stranded RNA viruses, arenaviruses often possess two single-stranded RNA segments. These segments encode for structural and non-structural proteins, which play vital roles in viral replication, transmission, and evasion of the host immune system. Despite the high virulence of arenaviruses, there are limited antiviral treatments available. Therefore, prevention through the reduction of exposure to infected rodents and early detection of cases remain crucial in controlling the spread of arenavirus infections.
The word "arenavirus" is derived from the Latin word "arena", which means "sand" in English. This term was chosen because the first virus in this family, Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV), was isolated from mice inhabiting the arena of the Buenos Aires Zoo in Argentina. The virus was discovered in 1933 by Brazilian physician and virologist Aloisio Magalhães. As more viruses with similar characteristics were identified, they were collectively named arenaviruses due to their association with the "arena" environment.
