Hong Kong issues health warning after 37-year-old man contracts deadly ‘herpes virus B’ from infected MONKEY and is fighting for his life in hospital
- The man contracted the virus after being attacked by a monkey in a park
- He was rushed to the emergency room and is now in ‘critical condition’
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Hong Kong has issued a health warning after a man contracted a rare and deadly virus from a monkey bite.
The 37-year-old man reportedly contracted the virus after being attacked while visiting Kam Shan Country Park, also known as Monkey Hill, in late February.
The man was rushed to the emergency room due to fever and decreased consciousness. He is now in intensive care and is in ‘critical’ condition.
This is the first human infection of simian virus B, also known as herpes simiae virus, recorded in Hong Kong, but cases have previously been reported in the US, Canada, mainland China and Japan.
Hong Kong’s Center for Health Protection has warned the general public to avoid touching or feeding wild monkeys to reduce the risk of contracting the virus.
The man is believed to have contracted the virus after being attacked by a monkey during his visit to Kam Shan Country Park, also known as Monkey Hill, in late February (stock image)
People can become infected if they are bitten or scratched by an infected macaque (stock photo) or if they have contact with the monkey’s eyes, nose or mouth
According to AS, the man was otherwise in good health rack published on the Hong Kong government website, and was hospitalized on March 21.
On Wednesday, fluid from his spine tested positive for the B virus.
According to the CDC, the virus is extremely rare but can cause serious brain damage or death if not treated quickly.
The herpes B virus kills about 70 percent of patients if not diagnosed and treated quickly.
People can become infected if they are bitten or scratched by an infected macaque, or if they come into contact with the monkey’s eyes, nose or mouth.
Macaque monkeys are often infected with the virus, but do not show any symptoms.
Symptoms in humans start as typical flu-like symptoms, including fever and chills, muscle aches, fatigue and headache. Other symptoms may include nausea and shortness of breath.
People may develop small blisters in the wound or in the area that came into contact with the monkey.
Symptoms usually begin within a month of exposure to an infected monkey, but they can appear as early as three days.
There has been only one case of an infected person spreading the B virus to another person.
Herpes B virus is naturally found in the saliva, urine and feces of macaque monkeys, which are commonly found in Hong Kong, according to the CDC.
There is currently no vaccine against herpes B.
The virus belongs to the herpes family. More than 100 herpes viruses are known, but eight routinely infect only humans.
Since the discovery of the virus in 1932, there have been 50 documented human cases. About two-thirds of these took place in the US. Of the 50 cases, 21 were fatal.
The virus can be treated with antiviral medications. Sometimes antiretroviral therapy is used, depending on the condition of the macaques, how well and how quickly the wound was cleaned and the nature of the wound.