Scientists may have finally discovered the mysterious animal that carries mpox

Scientists searched for the mysterious animal host for decades. It seems that a squirrel, an unlikely culprit, has emerged. Years of study, a little bit of luck, and one infected monkey later, the answer was found.

Squirrels and the Spread of Viral Disease in Monkeys
The West African fire-footed rope squirrel can infect others with mpox without becoming ill. People and animals hunt this rodent. Formerly referred to as monkeypox, scientists now believe it spreads the virus.

The finding links the squirrel to an Ivory Coast epidemic in 2023. Mangabey monkeys were under study by researchers in Taï National Park. A juvenile monkey died within weeks after it developed sores on its skin. Eighty monkeys then caught the infection, and four others died.

Long-term monitoring and cameras helped identify the source. Bako, the newborn monkey's mother, had eaten a squirrel's pieces. A silent mpox infection was confirmed by her urine and stool. Subsequently, the squirrel's remains were found nearby. It was infected with the same virus.