Animals Involved
Nonhuman primates, some wild and pet rodents, including Gambian rats, dormice, prairie dogs, African squirrels, some other mammals such as opossums; full host range uncertain
Known Distributions
West and central Africa
Probable Means of Spreading
Contact with lesions, blood or body fluids, fomites; bites; aerosols during close contact
Clinical Manifestations in People
Smallpoxlike disease; flulike symptoms followed by maculopapular rash, which develops into vesicles, pustules, scabs; lymphadenopathy prominent; respiratory signs, encephalitis possible; case fatality rate varies with strain, <1% to 10%–17% or higher; milder in those vaccinated for smallpox