During the study of a number of aardvarks by researchers of the Brain Function Research Group
at the University of the Witwatersrand, all but one of the study animals — as well as other aardvarks in the area — died because of a severe drought, with air
temperatures much higher than
normal and very
dry soil in the area.
At normal temperature the virus can remain active in infected tissue for several weeks, provided the infected source does not
dry out, or become exposed to ultraviolet radiation (sun light).