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Hong Kong Woman Critical After Monkey Attack Spurs First B Virus Human Case

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The first case in humans was a monkey attack in Hong Kong, in which a 45-year-old woman recently became critically ill with B Virus after a stray macaque crawled on her at an events center. The woman is now hospitalized as health authorities mount aggressive quarantine of those who may have had close contact with the victim.

A wild macaque monkey bit her in the hills around Kam Shan Country Park in Hong Kong. Eyewitness accounts state the monkey had attacked the woman. She was taken to the intensive-care unit, where tests confirmed that she was infected with the B Virus, also known as herpes B virus or Macacine herpesvirus 1.

B Virus has a benign effect on macaque monkeys but can cause severe and often fatal diseases in humans. If we are infected, we can develop a fever, headache, and vesicular skin lesions. Severe cases develop neurological complications, including encephalitis, which can be fatal without prompt treatment.

Leung Chi-Chiu, chairman of the Hong Kong Medical Association, stressed that they needed to act fast, “B Virus infection in humans is sporadic but can cause grave outcomes, so we have to act fast to prevent more infections of this virus.”

Public health officials are also tracing the monkey and implementing widespread testing of individuals who may have contacted the infected woman to prevent further outbreaks.

The case has aroused concern among residents and wildlife experts over humans’ interaction with wild animals. Although macaque monkeys are common in some Hong Kong districts, the public was warned against direct contact with wild animals to reduce transmission of infections and injuries.

As the woman continues to be in serious condition, the health authorities have issued guidelines for the standard population to pay attention and report immediately any communication with wild monkeys, as well as quick medical advice if symptoms of the B Virus infection occur in the body, alerting us that this critical incident may multiply more cases of a rare but fatal disease.

The event also underscores the delicate balance between humans and other animals and the need for commensurate individual and environmental measures to support people’s health and safety.

Source: www.bloomberg.com April 4, 2024

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