[2]: 393  Humans can contract the virus from contact with livestock infected with Bovine papular stomatitis and the disease is common among ranchers, milkers, and veterinarians.

Paravaccinia virus presents itself with blisters, nodules, or lesions about 4 mm in diameter, typically in the area that has made contact with livestock that is infected with bovine papular stomatitis.

It has a cylindrical body about 140 X 310 nm in size, with convex ends covered in a criss-cross pattern of rope like structures.

Instead individuals may refer to people with local knowledge of the cattle in their area such as ranchers, or veterinarians who have some familiarity with the infections in the region.

[6] Paravaccinia can enter the body though all pathways including: skin contact by mechanical means, through the respiratory tract, or orally.

In rare cases, surgical removal of the lesions can be done to help increase rate of healing, and help minimize risk of bacterial or fungal infection.

Since first being characterized in cows, bovine papular stomatitis has been isolated in sheep,[9] goats,[10] and red deer[11] creating new potential sources for human infection.

Bolvine papular stomatitis has been reported in the United States of America,[12] Great Britain,[13] Brazil,[14] Switzerland,[15] and Japan.