1 month ago
Hong Kong has issued a wellness alert aft a man caught a uncommon and deadly microorganism from a monkey bite.
The man, 37, reportedly caught nan microorganism aft being attacked during his sojourn to Kam Shan Country Park, besides known arsenic monkey hill, successful precocious February.
The man was rushed to nan ER owed to fever and reduced consciousness level. He is now successful nan intensive attraction portion and is successful a 'critical' condition.
This is nan first quality infection of monkey microorganism B, besides known as herpes simiae virus, recorded successful Hong Kong, but cases person been reported previously successful nan US, Canada, mainland China and Japan.
Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection has warned nan wide nationalist to debar rubbing aliases feeding chaotic monkeys to little nan consequence of catching nan virus.
The man reportedly caught nan microorganism aft being attacked by a monkey during his sojourn to Kam Shan Country Park, besides known arsenic monkey hill, successful precocious February (stock image)
People tin get infected if they are bitten aliases scratched by an infected macaque monkey (stock image), person interaction pinch nan monkey's eyes, nose, aliases mouth
The man had different been successful bully health, according to a statement published connected nan Hong Kong government’s website, and was admitted to nan infirmary connected March 21.
On Wednesday, fluid from his spine tested affirmative for B virus.
According to nan CDC, nan microorganism is highly rare, but tin lead to terrible encephalon harm aliases decease if it is not treated rapidly.
Herpes B microorganism kills astir 70 percent of sufferers if they are not diagnosed and treated promptly.
People tin get infected if they are bitten aliases scratched by an infected macaque monkey, person interaction pinch nan monkey's eyes, nose, aliases mouth.
Macaque monkeys are commonly infected by nan microorganism but do not show symptoms.
Symptoms successful group statesman arsenic emblematic flu-like symptoms, including fever and chills, musculus ache, fatigue and headache. Other signs tin see nausea and shortness of breath.
People tin create mini blisters successful nan coiled aliases area that has been successful interaction pinch nan monkey.
Symptoms usually commencement wrong a period of being exposed to an infected monkey, but they could look arsenic quickly arsenic 3 days.
There has only been 1 lawsuit of an infected personification spreading B microorganism to different person.
Herpes B microorganism is people recovered successful nan saliva, urine and stool of macaques, which are often recovered successful Hong Kong, according to nan CDC.
There is nary vaccine for herpes B. The microorganism belongs to nan herpes family.
Since nan microorganism was discovered successful 1932, location person been 50 documented quality cases. Roughly 2 thirds of occurred successful nan US. Of nan 50 cases, 21 were fatal.
WHAT IS HERPES B?
Herpes B microorganism kills astir 70 percent of sufferers unless they are treated immediately.
It is dispersed via macaque monkeys.
Macaques that are housed successful primate accommodation usually go infected by adulthood but often person nary symptoms.
Infection successful humans is highly rare.
Since nan microorganism was discovered successful 1932, location person been 50 documented quality cases, of which 21 were fatal.
Most of these infections resulted from animal bites aliases scratches, aliases from contaminated materials, specified arsenic a needle, entering surgery skin.
However, a intelligence died successful 1997 aft being splashed successful nan oculus pinch an infected animal's bodily fluid.
Vets and laboratory workers are astir astatine risk.
The herpes B microorganism tin past for hours connected objects, peculiarly if they are moist.
Disease onset usually occurs wrong a period of microorganism vulnerability but tin beryllium arsenic small arsenic 3 days.
Symptoms include:
- Blisters astatine nan tract of exposure
- Pain, numbness aliases itching astatine nan site
- Flu-like aches and pains
- Fever and chills
- Headaches that past much than a day
- Fatigue
- Poor co-ordination
- Shortness of breath
If nan microorganism is not treated instantly and truthful enters nan cardinal tense system, astir patients dice moreover pinch treatment.
The astir communal origin of decease is respiratory nonaccomplishment pinch paralysis, which starts successful nan little limbs and moves up.
The fewer who past often person lasting encephalon damage.
If a personification suspects they whitethorn beryllium infected, preventative anti-viral therapy whitethorn beryllium required up to 5 times a time for 2 weeks.
Treatment depends connected whether nan cardinal tense strategy is thought to beryllium affected but usually involves anti-viral narcotics fixed intravenously twice-a-day.
There is nary vaccine for herpes B.
Those who activity pinch macaque monkeys should deterioration due protective clothing, including gloves and a look shield.
The animals should besides beryllium handled humanely to trim nan consequence of bites and scratches.
Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention
