LYMPHOCYTIC CHORIOMENINGITIS VIRUS IN SOUTHERN FRANCE - 4 CASE-REPORTS AND A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Infections due to choriomeningitis virus have been only infrequently r eported in humans. Most cases have been diagnosed during laboratory ou tbreaks in the USA and Germany. In this report, we describe 3 cases of acute meningitis due to choriomeningitis virus occurring after close contact with domestic syrian hamsters. Although the disease is usually mild, some fatal cases have been described. The purpose of this repor t is to alert physicians to the possibility of lymphocytic choriomenin gitis in patients who have had close contact with Syrian hamsters.