Beijing-based veterinarian dies of first human infection case with monkey B virus: report
A Beijing veteran, who was confirmed as China’s first human infection case with monkey B virus (BV), has died, local media reported.
Working for an organization researching non-human primates, a 53-year-old man showed early signs of nausea and vomiting, a month after dissecting two dead monkeys in early March, the official Global Times quoted English as saying. Giving told. Platform of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Reportedly, the vet had sought treatment at several hospitals, but eventually died on May 27. For now, his close contacts were said to be safe.
The report noted that there had previously been no fatal or clinically apparent BV infection in China, thus the vet’s case is the first human infection case with BV identified in China.
Back in April researchers collected the vet’s cerebrospinal fluid and found it positive for BV. However, samples of his close contacts were found negative for the virus.
what is monkey b virus
Initially isolated in 1932, the virus is an alphaherpesvirus enzootic in the macaques of the macaque genus. It can be transmitted through direct contact and exchange of bodily secretions and has a mortality rate of 70 percent to 80 percent.
According to the magazine, BV in monkeys can pose a potential threat to occupational workers.
It is important to eliminate BV and strengthen surveillance in laboratory macaques and occupational workers in China during the development of specific pathogen-free rhesus colonies, the report said.
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