Yatapox virus

Yatapoxvirus is a genus of viruses in the family Poxviridae in the subfamily Chordopoxvirinae. Apes and baboons serve as natural hosts.

Among the diseases associated with this genus is a smallpox-like symptomatology that first appeared in humans in Kenya in 1957 and was transmitted after injury by monkeys, possibly also by mosquitoes or through direct contact with infected humans. The virus "Tanapoxvirus" was named after the river Tanafluss where the disease first appeared.

1. Jeng D et al (2013) The tanapoxvirus 15L protein is a virus-encoded neuregulin that promotes viral replication in human endothelial cells. J Virol 87:3018-3026.
2. Monroe BP et al (2014) Estimating the geographic distribution of human Tanapox and potential reservoirs using ecological niche modeling. Int J Health Geogr 13:34.