Epidemiological assessment of cowpox virus Transmission from rodent reservoirs to humans

Abstract

How effectively can public health systems identify and respond to cowpox virus transmission events originating from rodent reservoirs before they escalate into broader community outbreaks? This research investigated the epidemiological dynamics of cowpox virus (CPXV) transmission from rodent hosts to human populations in metropolitan Berlin, Germany, with emphasis on characterizing transmission pathways and identifying high-risk demographics. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted over a 36-month period from January 2021 to December 2023, encompassing 144 confirmed and 192 suspected human cowpox cases. Epidemiological data were extracted from clinical records, veterinary surveillance databases, and environmental monitoring stations. The findings revealed that pet rats constituted the predominant transmission vector, accounting for 38.2% of confirmed cases, followed by wild rodent exposure at 24.3%. Age-stratified analysis demonstrated that individuals aged 0 to 10 years exhibited the highest incidence rate at 29.2%. Seasonal clustering was observed with 62.4% of cases occurring between October and March. Antiviral prophylaxis with cidofovir administered within 72 hours of exposure demonstrated a 78.6% reduction in lesion development among high-risk contacts. These findings underscore the necessity for enhanced rodent-associated zoonotic surveillance and targeted public health education campaigns.