Nature News · Feb 11, 2026 · Collected from RSS
NEWS AND VIEWS 11 February 2026 The species in which monkeypox virus naturally circulates is uncertain, but wildlife surveillance data suggest that the fire-footed rope squirrel is a likely candidate. By Edyth Parker Edyth Parker is at the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Genomics and Global Health, Redeemer’s University, Ede 232101, Nigeria. Christian Happi Christian Happi is at the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Genomics and Global Health, Redeemer’s University, Ede 232101, Nigeria. Mpox is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted to humans from an animal host. Although it is known to be caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV; Orthopoxvirus monkeypox), the reservoir for MPXV — the host, or hosts, that enables the pathogen to persist in nature — remains uncertain. Writing in Nature, Riutord-Fe et al.1 report one of the most comprehensive investigations of wildlife disease outbreaks so far. They present several lines of evidence that a transmission event from fire-footed rope squirrels (Funisciurus pyrropus) is the probable origin of an MPXV outbreak in a wild population of sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys) in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire. The study provides crucial insights into squirrel species as potential natural reservoirs, and emphasizes the ongoing risk of transmission at the human–animal interface, particularly in the wild meat trade. Access options Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription 27,99 € / 30 days cancel any time Subscribe to this journal Receive 51 print issues and online access 185,98 € per year only 3,65 € per issue Rent or buy this article Prices vary by article type from$1.95 to$39.95 Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout Additional access options: Log in Learn about institutional subscriptions Read our FAQs Contact customer support doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-00175-x ReferencesRiutord-Fe, C. et al. Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-10086-y (2026).Article Google Scholar Khodakevich, L., Jezek, Z. & Kinzanzka, K. Lancet 1, 98–99 (1986).Article PubMed Google Scholar Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Morb. Mortal. Wkly Rep. 52, 589–590 (2003).PubMed Google Scholar Hutson, C. L. et al. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 76, 757–768 (2007).Article PubMed Google Scholar Matondo Kuamfumu, M. et al. Preprint at bioRxiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.28.672325 (2025).Tiee, M. S., Harrigan, R. J., Thomassen, H. A. & Smith, T. B. R. Soc. Open Sci. 5, 171089 (2018).Article PubMed Google Scholar Leroy, E. M. et al. Nature 438, 575–576 (2005).Article PubMed Google Scholar Dugan, V. G. et al. PLoS Pathog. 4, e1000076 (2008).Article PubMed Google Scholar Letko, M., Seifert, S. N., Olival, K. J., Plowright, R. K. & Munster, V. J. Nature Rev. Microbiol. 18, 461–471 (2020).Article PubMed Google Scholar Viana, M. et al. Trends Ecol. Evol. 29, 270–279 (2014).Article PubMed Google Scholar Reynolds, M. G. et al. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 82, 746–754 (2010).Article PubMed Google Scholar Download references Competing Interests The authors declare no competing interests. Related Articles Transmission of MPXV from fire-footed rope squirrels to sooty mangabeys Viral genomes track the transmission of mpox in humans before 2017 outbreak A human protein that holds bird flu viruses at bay See all News & Views Subjects Latest on: Virology Epidemiology How some COVID vaccines triggered rare blood-clot disorder News 12 FEB 26 Transmission of MPXV from fire-footed rope squirrels to sooty mangabeys Article 11 FEB 26 Mosquito–capsid interactions contribute to flavivirus vector specificity Article 04 FEB 26 Measles is raging worldwide: are you at risk? News Explainer 09 FEB 26 More than one-third of cancer cases are preventable, massive study finds News 03 FEB 26 The surprisingly big health benefits of just a little exercise News Feature 28 JAN 26