A concerning health alert has been issued in Hong Kong as a 37-year-old man fights for his life in intensive care after contracting a deadly form of herpes from monkeys.
The man’s condition has prompted health officials to caution against interactions with wild macaques, urging the public to exercise caution.
The victim sustained injuries from wild macaques in February during a visit to Kam Shan Country Park, colloquially known as ‘Monkey Hill’.
Initially admitted to the hospital with a fever on March 21, his condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to a transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU) where he remains in critical condition.
Health authorities confirmed the man’s ailment as herpes B virus, also known as herpes simiae, a disease commonly found in macaques. While this virus typically manifests as mild symptoms or remains asymptomatic in monkeys, it poses severe risks to humans, potentially leading to life-threatening complications.
Symptoms of the virus in humans can escalate from fever to respiratory issues, nausea, neurological impairments such as numbness or coordination problems, and in severe cases, irreversible brain damage or fatality.
Despite being first discovered in 1932, human cases remain rare, with approximately 50 recorded instances and 21 fatalities globally.
Dr. Wilson Lam, president of the Hong Kong Society of Infectious Diseases, highlighted the seriousness of the situation saying: “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.”
The incident marks the first recorded case of human infection with the B virus in Hong Kong, despite the prevalence of macaques in the region. Health officials urged residents and visitors to refrain from touching or feeding wild monkeys to prevent potential transmission of the virus.
As investigations continue, authorities stressed the importance of public cooperation in preventing the spread of this potentially lethal virus.
