Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever (VHF) is a
zoonotic human illness first identified in 1989. The disease is most prevalent in several rural areas of central Venezuela and is caused by the
Guanarito virus (GTOV) which belongs to the
Arenaviridae family. The short-tailed cane mouse (
Zygodontomys brevicauda) is the main host for GTOV which is spread mostly by inhalation of aerosolized droplets of saliva, respiratory secretions, urine, or blood from infected rodents. Person-to-person spread is possible, but uncommon.