Man fighting for his life in ICU after catching monkey virus
Human infections are rare.
A man has been left fighting for his life in intensive care after contracting a deadly form of herpes from monkeys in Hong Kong.
The 37-year-old was wounded by wild macaques in February while visiting Kam Shan Country Park, also known as ‘Monkey Hill’.
After being admitted to hospital with a fever on March 21, he was later transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) in a critical condition. On Wednesday, officials confirmed he was suffering from herpes B virus, or herpes simiae, a disease commonly found in macaques.
However, while in monkeys it usually causes only mild disease, or may even be asymptomatic, in humans it can be deadly.
The virus usually first appears as flu-like symptoms around a month after exposure, while small blisters may develop around the infection site.
It can then develop into breathing problems and nausea or vomiting, before progressing to neurological issues including numbness or problems with muscle coordination. In the most severe cases it can lead to brain damage or even death.
Since it was first discovered in 1932 there have been around 50 recorded cases in humans, with 21 deaths.
There has only been one recorded case of human-to-human transmission.
On Friday, the patient’s condition had improved from ‘critical’ to ‘serious’. Despite the number of macaques in Hong Kong, it is the country’s first recorded case.
Dr Wilson Lam, president of the Hong Kong Society of Infectious Diseases, told a local radio programme: ‘We don’t know the virus very well, but based on the limited data, if humans are in contact with the virus, there’s a high chance of infection.
‘It can have serious health consequences that affect the spinal nerves and central nervous system.’
Herpes B: the symptoms
The first indications of B virus infection are typically flu-like symptoms:
- fever and chills
- muscle ache
- fatigue
- headache
Then, areas where you had contact with the monkey may become blistered and you may also have:
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Hiccups
If left untreated, the virus could spread and cause:
- Neurologic and inflammatory symptoms (pain, numbness, itching) near the wound site
- Problems with muscle coordination
- Brain damage and severe damage to the nervous system
- Death
Source: CDC
Dr Lam added that any bites and scratches from wild monkeys should be disinfected as soon as possible, but if that cannot be done, the wound should be cleaned with running water for around 15 minutes when possible.
‘You could potentially kill the virus through disinfection, and when washing it away, you can at least lower the viral load from the [monkey’s] fluids. Otherwise, the virus can enter into the body’s system,’ he said.
Shek Chung-tong, a senior fauna conservation officer with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, warned people in Hong Kong not to interact with the monkeys.
He said looking monkeys in the eye could provoke them and cause them to overreact. There are between 200 and 300 reports of nuisance caused by the monkeys in Hong Kong every year, and injuries stand at around five to eight cases.