A 53-year-old veterinarian, residing in Beijing, died at the end of May 2021 from a rare disease: the monkey herpes B virus or “Monkey B virus”. He had dissected two monkeys last March and reportedly began experiencing the first symptoms a month later, reports the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Preventionwhich records its first case of transmission to humans.
This disease is not new, it has already been identified in about forty humans in the world since 1932. But it is found more in monkeys, more particularly macaques, which do not necessarily show symptoms, underlines the INRS. It has nothing to do with herpes as we usually know it in humans. It is transmitted by bite, scratch, sexual contact or even via drops of saliva, contaminated hands brought to the mucous membranes (eyes, for example).
Symptoms between two days and 6 weeks later
Without treatment, it is fatal in 80% of cases. Symptoms can occur in a very variable way, between 2 days and six weeks after being exposed. The disease in humans is manifested by fever, skin blisters, pain, tingling, paralysis around the part that has been in contact with the virus. It gradually attacks the central nervous system.
To prevent this, avoid direct contact with monkeys. And, in case of contact, clean the part of the body that has been infected for 15 minutes with soap, disinfect, before rinsing for 15 to 20 minutes. Then, go to a doctor who is knowledgeable about this disease. There is a screening test to find out if the person is infected with the Monkey B virus.
That said, the general population would not be too much at risk, animal caregivers are more so. So far, no human-to-human transmission has been recorded.
Sources:
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, July 3, 2021
- INRS
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