Infection by the canine distemper virus (CDV) results in a fulminating infectious disease that causes serious harm to dogs. With breaking 'of the CDV into primates, some researchers wonder if the CDV will cause a serious infection in humans. To better understand the potential of the CDV to infect humans, the molecular characteristics of the CDV, how it infects target cells in the host, the key receptors involved in infection, and infection of human cells in vitro were assessed in this review. There is no direct evidence that CDV can colonize and grow in humans. Two key receptors, SLAM and nectin-4, in hunans and primates have high identity, and the CDV can infect human cells in vitro. Therefore, we must pay close attention to the potential threat of infection by the CDV in humans.