LCMV is a member of the family Arena-viridae that causes a rodent-borne viral infectious nonbacterial/aseptic meningitis, encephalitis or meningoencephalitis. LCMV is a reverse strand single stranded RNA virus that is naturally spread by the common house mouse. Since the virus is somewhat resistant to drying effects, humans can become infected by inhaling infectious aerosolized particles of rodent urine, feces or saliva; by ingesting food contaminated with the virus; by contamination of mucus membranes with infected body fluids; or by directly exposing cuts or other open wounds to virus-infected blood. The virus is usually only dangerous to those who are immunocompromised.