A person is in vital situation after he was bitten by a monkey and contracted a uncommon however doubtlessly deadly virus.

The 37-year-old man was bitten by wild monkeys in Hong Kong’s Kam Shan Nation Park in late February, and was rushed to hospital on March 21 with a fever and “decreased aware degree,” based on a press release from the Centre for Well being Safety (CHP), an company of the Division of Well being in Hong Kong.

He was found to have contracted an an infection of B virus, often known as Monkey B virus or Herpesvirus simiae, which is often discovered within the saliva, urine, and feces of macaques.

“Cerebrospinal fluid specimen of the affected person examined constructive for B virus by the Public Well being Laboratory Companies Department of the CHP at this time,” the CHP mentioned on Wednesday.

That is the primary case of the virus that has been recorded in Hong Kong, however the illness has been beforehand seen within the U.S., Canada, and China. Solely 50 folks had been contaminated by the virus between 1932 and 2019, 21 of which died, based on the CDC.

The first route of transmission to people is thru bites or scratches from contaminated monkeys, however it could additionally happen via publicity to contaminated supplies comparable to tissues, saliva, or urine from contaminated animals. Human-to-human transmission of Monkey B virus is extraordinarily uncommon: there is just one identified case of the virus being handed from individual to individual.

Signs of B virus an infection in people can embody fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and blisters on the website of publicity. In extreme instances, the virus can result in neurological signs comparable to encephalitis (irritation of the mind), which will be deadly if not handled promptly. It may possibly take between a day and three weeks for preliminary signs to graduate to respiratory issues and loss of life, based on the CDC.

“Contaminated individuals could initially current with flu-like signs which will progress to an infection of the central nervous system,” the CHP mentioned within the assertion.

Therapy for the virus an infection in people often entails supportive care to handle signs, together with antiviral medicines to assist scale back viral replication and alleviate the severity of the sickness.

The CHP advises the general public to “avoid wild monkeys and keep away from touching or feeding them,” and “in case there are wounds brought on by monkeys, wash the wound with operating water and search medical consideration instantly.”

The person stays within the Intensive Care Unit on the Yan Chai Hospital as of April 3, and continues to be in vital situation.

This article by Jess Thomson was first revealed by Newsweek on 5 April 2024. Lead Picture: Inventory picture of a macaque (fundamental) and a herpes household virus (inset). A person has been contaminated with monkey B virus after being bitten in Hong Kong. ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS.

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