ə¦rēnə¦vīrəs, ¦erənə-, ¦ärənə- noun
Etymology: New Latin, alteration of arenovirus , from Latin arena sand + New Latin -o- + virus ; so called from the fine granules seen in cross sections of the virion
: any of a family (Arenaviridae) of single-stranded RNA viruses that have a grainy appearance due to the presence of ribosomes in the virion, that include the causative agents of lymphocytic choriomeningitis and Lassa fever, and that are usually transmitted to humans by infected wild rodents through contamination of food and personal items or by inhalation of the airborne virus