Monkey Bite Leaves Man in Critical Condition After Getting Infected With Rare Virus; What Is 'B Virus?'

After getting bitten by a monkey, a man was left in a critical condition. He also got infected with a rare virus that could be potentially lethal.

Monkey Bite Leaves Man Infected, Critically Ill

In late February, the 37-year-old man got bitten by wild monkeys in the Kam Shan Country Park of Hong Kong. On March 21, he was then rushed to the hospital due to fever and a decreased level of consciousness, as noted by the Center for Health Protection, which is an agency under Hong Kong's Department of Health.

The man was found to have gotten infected with B virus, which is also known as Herpesvirus simiae or Monkey B virus. It can typically be found in macaque salive, feces, and urine.

This viral case serves as the first one that has been seen in Hong Kong.

As of April 3, the man stays in the Yan Chai Hospital's Intensive Care Unit and remains in critical condition.

What Is B Virus?

A B virus infection is a very rare infection that could result in severe brain damage or even death if treatment is not administered immediately. The vial infection may lead to breathing problems and may even inflame the spinal cord or brain.

The main route of transmission to humans is via scratches or bites from infected monkeys. However, it may also occur via exposure to materials that are contaminated. Though it is possible, it is still rare for a B virus to have human-to-human transmission, as there is only one known person-to-person case of transmission.

B virus infection symptoms among humans may include muscle aches, headache, fatigue, and blisters at the exposure site. There are severe cases where the virus could result in neurological conditions, such as encephalitis. Symptoms usually start within a month of exposure to an infected monkey, though they may also start surfacing in just three to seven days post-exposure.

The CHP notes that individuals who are infected may initially exhibit flu-like symptoms that could progress to become an CNS (central nervous system) infection.

Infection treatment among humans typically involves supportive care for symptom management. This comes along with antiviral medications that could in reducing the replication of the virus and alleviating illness severity. There are currently no vaccines to protect humans against this virus.

Though the man's case marks the first in Hong Kong, the disease was previously reported in China, Canada, and the US. From 1932 to 2019, there have only been 50 people who were infected with the virus. Among them, 21 ended up dying.

The CHP warns the public to keep distance from wild monkeys and avoid feeding or touching them. Moreover, in cases where monkeys cause wounds, the wound should be washed with running water and immediate medical attention should be sought.

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