Overview of arbovirus, arenavirus, and filovirus infections

[Merna]

Arbovirus, arenavirus, and filovirus are viruses that are spread from animals to people and, with some viruses, from people to people. The animal involved depends on the type of virus.

Many of these infections do not cause symptoms. Symptoms of most of these infections, when they occur, are usually mild and vague and resemble flu symptoms. As the infection progresses, people may have swollen lymph glands, rashes, and joint pain. Some of these viruses can infect the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) or the brain (encephalitis). Some cause fever with a tendency to bleed easily (called hemorrhagic fever), which can be life threatening.