Q: Are hamsters a possible problem during pregnancy?
A: Some hamsters carry the Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV). This is an extremely rare condition, but if a pregnant woman gets infected with LCMV she runs the risk of damage to the developing fetus. Some simple precautions can probably protect pregnant women from contracting LCMV: If you have a pet hamster, have someone else take care of it while you are pregnant. In additon, you can also have a veterinarian test the hamster for LCMV.