Scientists have published an addendum to a June 2026 Nature study documenting that the monkeypox virus (MPXV) can be transmitted from fire‑footed rope squirrels to sooty mangabeys. The brief report, released online on June 24, 2026, provides additional experimental data supporting earlier findings that the virus can cross species barriers among African wildlife [Source](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10767-2).
The addendum expands on the original research by detailing the conditions under which the squirrels—known carriers of MPXV in West and Central Africa—infected captive sooty mangabeys, a primate species previously implicated in zoonotic spillover events. Laboratory observations confirmed viral replication in the mangabeys’ tissues and the subsequent shedding of infectious particles, suggesting that the primates could serve as intermediate hosts for human infection.
Analysis: The new data reinforce concerns that MPXV reservoirs are broader than previously understood, highlighting the need for enhanced surveillance of both rodent and primate populations in endemic regions. Public health officials may need to consider wildlife trade and habitat encroachment as factors that increase the likelihood of cross‑species transmission, potentially elevating the risk of future outbreaks in humans.
Sources
– Nature, “Addendum: Transmission of MPXV from fire‑footed rope squirrels to sooty mangabeys,” published online June 24, 2026, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-10767-2. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10767-2
Source: Nature – Original article
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Story synopsis gathered from: Nature — source
