Herpesvirus simiae sent a 37-year-old in Hong Kong to intensive care. Here’s what you need to know
Is called Herpesvirus simiaebut is mostly known as Simian virus B because it mainly affects these animals. For a few days, however, it has been talked about insistently because a 37-year-old man from Hong Kong contracted it after being attacked by a monkey during an excursion in a park and was admitted to intensive care after losing consciousness due to a very high fever. Let’s see what it’s about.
Simian virus B or Herpes B: what is it
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It is a virus that was first identified in 1932 and which mainly affects macaques, except that for monkeys it is asymptomatic, so it is also difficult to understand if a primate is affected by it. However, when a monkey transmits it to humans, the virus can also be lethal. In fact, in 2021 a veterinarian died in Beijing after being affected by this virus. In total, from 1932 to today, they can only be counted around fifty cases among men, but 21 deaths, therefore a very high mortality rate. A human can become infected not only with bites and scratches from monkeys, but also by coming into contact with the primate’s eyes, nose or mouth. There was only one case of person-to-person contagion.
Simian virus: symptoms and incubation
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the symptoms of Herpesvirus simiae occur within one month of infection in most cases, but the incubation could last even less, that is, between three and seven days. The symptoms are similar to those of the flu, so fever, chills, muscle aches, headache and fatigue. In the area of the body that came into contact with the monkey or near the wound in case of bite or scratch on the animal’s part, some may also appear blisters. If the infection is not treated immediately, other symptoms may also appear such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and shortness of breathor.
Read also: Monkeypox: what it is, the symptoms, how it is transmitted and how dangerous it is
The complications
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In severe cases, if the patient is not treated immediately, Herpesvirus simiae infection can also result neurological and inflammatory symptoms near the woundmuscle coordination problems, brain damage and brain damage nervous system. Ultimately it can even lead to death.
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Treatment
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Arnaldo Carusopresident of the Italian Society of Virology (Siv-Isv), interviewed by Adnkronos Health he explained that “we are not talking about an epidemic or even a pandemic danger”, but that It is important to control the spread of the infection among monkeys and knowing that “man can also get sick if accidentally injured by an infected monkey”. The virologist added: “From a practical point of view today it seems difficult for a monkey to be able to have such contact with humans as to infect him, certainly if this virus continues to spread among animals, and these animals come into contact with humans, the risk of transmission to humans is growing. It is therefore necessary to control the infection within monkey populations and evaluate the colonies.” As regards treatments, Caruso explained: “As with all herpes viruses, there are also some methods for treating Herpesvirus simiae in humans. antiviral drugs (aciclovir, ganciclovir). Medicines that should be given immediately, as soon as the infection is suspected. Why if it reaches the brain the drugs can no longer act“.
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