Definition

A type of virus that is made of RNA and is often spread by rodents, causing serious illnesses in humans.

Example

The arenavirus is known to cause diseases like Lassa fever, which can be very dangerous.

Conversation

Have you heard about the arenavirus outbreak in some countries?

Yeah, I read that it can be really dangerous if contracted.

I didn’t know it was transmitted by rodents, that’s kind of scary.

Definitely, we should be careful and keep updated on health news.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Arenavirus is formed from "arena" (from Latin, meaning sand) and "virus" (from Latin, meaning poison or slimy liquid). The term refers to a group of viruses that have a sandy appearance under the microscope, hence the name derived from the Latin word for sand.

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'arena' which means sand, and 'virus' which means poison. This helps you remember that an arenavirus is a type of virus that looks sandy.

Visually Confused Words