Most arenaviruses are infectious for humans based on surveys of laboratory workers or residents of endemic areas who may have been exposed, but in most cases clinical infections have not been observed. Only six of the nineteen arenaviruses are associated with human disease. Pathogenesis of arenavirus disease in humans is believed to involve initial replication at the site of infection, which is usually due to aerosol deposition in lung.

VIRUS	DISEASE	GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus	Meningitis	Europe, Americas
Lassa virus	Hemorrhagic fever	West Africa
Junin Virus	Argentine hemorrhagic fever	Argentina
Machupo Virus	Bolivian hemorrhagic fever	Bolivia
Guanarito	Hemorrhagic fever	Venezuela
Sabia virus	Brazilian hemorrhagic fever	Brazil