Tanapox is a rarely diagnosed zoonosis known to be endemic to equatorial Africa. All previously reported human cases were acquired within 10° north or south of the Equator, most recently 19 years ago. We describe a human case of tanapox in South Africa (24° south of the Equator). Expanded surveillance for this pathogen is warranted.
Keywords: DNA sequencing; PCR; South Africa; Tanapoxvirus; Yatapoxvirus; electron microscopy; light microscopy; vector-borne infections; viruses; zoonoses; zoonotic virus.