Strains of variola-like virus were isolated from rodents: 1 each from Mastomys coucha (Muridae) and Helioscorus rufobrachium (Sciuridae) in the Bumba zone of the Equatorial province of Zaire. Attempts to isolate the virus from 48 monkeys were negative. Neutralizing antibodies were found in 1 of 7 monkey (Cercopithecus ascanius schmidti) sera and in the H. rufobrachium serum from which the virus was isolated.