Tanapox. A serological survey of the lower Tana River valley

Abstract

SUMMARYSera collected from the indigenous population of the Tana River valley during the Tana River Expedition in 1976 were examined for neutralizing antibody to Tanapox virus. Antibody was found in 9-2 % of the population in infected areas.This result and the presence of antibody in four children indicated that infection had continued to occur in the area since the 1962 outbreak.

Tanapox, South Africa, 2022

“…The epidemiology and natural ecology of tanapox is largely unknown, but previous reports indicate that all infected humans are equally affected, regardless of age group and sex. Serologic surveys conducted in Tana River communities indicated 16.3% prevalence in 1971 and 9.2% in 1976 ( 10 ). Human-to-human transmission is rare, and although transmission from nonhuman primates to humans by contact or inoculation has been noted under laboratory conditions, natural human infections are more likely to be acquired by mechanical transmission from contaminated mouthparts of hematophagous arthropods ( 2 – 4 ).…”