Its skin erupted with angry red lesions, the kind scientists recognize immediately as a possible sign of monkey pox ... virus hide between outbreaks? The surprising answer? Squirrels.

For the monkeypox virus, experts need to shield people from the fire-footed rope squirrel (Funisciurus pyrropus), which lives in the forests of West and Central Africa. A team of scientists first ...

The first known outbreak of the virus in Scotland was in 2007 near Lockerbie, Dumfries, and Galloway, and in spring last year, the first death from squirrel pox of a red squirrel north of the ...

Wales' red squirrels face being wiped out by a deadly virus unless a vaccine is developed, campaigners have warned. The pox killed up to 80% of red squirrels over winter at one of just three sites ...

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many are carriers of the destructive squirrel pox virus. Squirrel pox is increasingly a problem in Scotland. Carried by - though not harmful to - greys it is deadly to the reds and there are ...

Several red squirrels have been found dead in South East Northumberland as the Animal and Plant Health Agency confirmed that the squirrel pox virus is present in the area. The illness, which first ...

People are being urged to be vigilant after reports of possible cases of a virus lethal to red squirrels further north than before. Members of the public have twice reported seeing lethargic and ...