Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis : Part 2

by CDC

(Page 2 of 2)

Is the disease ever fatal?

LCM is usually not fatal. In general, mortality is less than 1%.

How is LCM treated?

Aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, or meningoencephalitis requires hospitalization and supportive treatment based on severity. Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as corticosteroids, may be considered under specific circumstances. Although studies have shown that ribavirin, a drug used to treat several other viral diseases, is effective against LCMV in vitro, there is no established evidence to support its routine use for treatment of LCM in humans.

Who is at risk for LCMV infection?

Individuals of all ages who come into contact with urine, feces, saliva, or blood of the house mouse are potentially at risk for infection. Laboratory workers who work with the virus or handle infected animals are also at risk. However, this risk can be minimized by utilizing animals from sources that regularly test for the virus, wearing proper protective laboratory gear, and following appropriate safety precautions. Owners of pet mice or hamsters may be at risk for infection if these animals originate from colonies that have become contaminated with LCMV, or if the animals become infected from other wild mice. Human fetuses are at risk of acquiring infection vertically from an infected mother.

What can I do to prevent getting LCMV?

LCMV infection can be prevented by avoiding contact with house mice and taking precautions when handling pet rodents (i.e. mice, hamsters, or guinea pigs).

Although rare, pet rodents may become infected with LCMV from wild rodents. Breeders, pet stores, and pet owners should take measures to prevent infestations of wild rodents. Pet rodents should not come into contact with wild rodents.

If you have a rodent infestation in and around your home, take the following precautions to reduce the risk of LCMV infection: Seal up rodent entry holes or gaps with steel wool, lath metal, or caulk. Trap rats and mice by using an appropriate snap trap. Clean up rodent food sources and nesting sites and take precautions when cleaning rodent-infected areas. See recommendations for cleaning rodent-infested areas.

If you have a pet rodent, wash your hands with soap and water (or waterless alcohol-based hand rubs when soap is not available and hands are not visibly soiled) after handling rodents or their cages and bedding.

What are the recommendations for cleaning a rodent-infested area?

• Use cross-ventilation when entering a previously unventilated enclosed room or dwelling prior to cleanup.
• Put on rubber, latex, vinyl or nitrile gloves.
• Do not stir up dust by vacuuming, sweeping, or any other means.
• Thoroughly wet contaminated areas with a bleach solution or household disinfectant.
• Hypochlorite (bleach) solution: Mix 1 and ½ cups of household bleach in 1 gallon of water.
• Once everything is wet, take up contaminated materials with damp towel and then mop or sponge the area with bleach solution or household disinfectant.
• Spray dead rodents with disinfectant and then double-bag along with all cleaning materials and throw bag out in an appropriate waste disposal system.
• Remove the gloves and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water (or waterless alcohol-based hand rubs when soap is not available and hands are not visibly soiled).

What needs to be done to address the threat of LCMV?

The geographic distributions of the rodent hosts are widespread both domestically and abroad. However, infrequent recognition and diagnosis, and therefore underreporting, of LCM, have limited scientists' ability to estimate incidence rates and prevalence of disease among humans. Understanding the epidemiology of LCM and LCMV infections will help to further delineate risk factors for infection and develop effective preventive strategies. Increasing physician awareness will improve disease recognition and reporting, which may lead to better characterization of the natural history and the underlying immunopathological mechanisms of disease, and stimulate future therapeutic research and development.

About the Author

www.cdc.gov
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one of the 13 major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which is the principal agency in the United States government for protecting the health and safety of all Americans and for providing essential human services, especially for those people who are least able to help themselves.