An infection with a rare virus has been reported in Hong Kong. The trigger was probably contact with a monkey. A 37-year-old is in critical condition.
Munich – Monkeys are very intelligent and sometimes trusting animals. A recent case from Hong Kong showed that it is not always advisable to seek proximity to primates. There, a 37-year-old was bitten by a monkey during a trip to a park on the outskirts of the city and ended up in the intensive care unit almost a month later. The reason for this was probably a rare virus that was transmitted through contact with the monkey.
Man probably in intensive care with rare virus after monkey bite – critical condition
The incident occurred at the end of February in Kam Shan Country Park near the metropolis of Hong Kong. The park is also popular with tourists for the macaques that live there and is therefore nicknamed “Monkey Hill”. The 37-year-old had contact with the monkeys living there during his visit and was wounded by one of the animals. His family reported this. Almost a month later, on March 21, the man was admitted to hospital with fever and impaired consciousness and transferred to the intensive care unit.
As the Center for Health Protection (CHP) of the Hong Kong Ministry of Health announced in a publication at the beginning of April, the man was infected with the herpes B virus - also called herpesvirus simiae. The main carriers of the virus are rhesus monkeys, vervet monkeys and macaques. In primates, the virus usually only causes mild symptoms, but can be fatal if transmitted to humans. The disease Herpes B - also known colloquially as monkey herpes - caused by the virus initially presents with fever, headaches and exhaustion. As it progresses, herpes B can also lead to brain and nerve damage and death.
According to the CHP, the 37-year-old remains in the intensive care unit for treatment and is in critical condition. The man is the first case of herpes B virus infection recorded in Hong Kong.
Rare virus infection in Hong Kong: Authority warns – “stay away from monkeys”
Transmission of the herpes B virus to humans is generally extremely rare. Since the disease was first observed in 1932, the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recorded only 50 infections - 21 cases were fatal for the patient. The virus is usually transmitted through bites or scratches from infected primates. The virus can also be found in the monkeys' saliva, feces, urine or brain or spinal cord tissue.
Because of the infection, the CHP is once again calling on the people of Hong Kong to be careful when dealing with free-roaming monkeys. To minimize the risk of contracting the herpes B virus, “stay away from wild monkeys and avoid touching or feeding them; If monkey-caused wounds are present, wash the wound under running water and seek medical attention immediately,” the CHP advises on its website.
After dissecting monkeys – Chinese vet dies after infection with herpes B virus
Already in 2021, a Chinese veterinarian from Beijing complained of feeling unwell - almost a month after he dissected two dead primates. He was also subsequently diagnosed with the herpes B virus. This was reported by the
Global Times
portal
. Despite treatment in hospital, the 53-year-old died a short time later. It was the first laboratory-proven case of herpes B virus infection in China.
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