A 37-year-old man has died after becoming Hong Kong's first recorded human case of B Virus (herpes B virus) infection. The man was attacked and injured by a wild monkey at Kam Shan Country Park early last year, and he succumbed to the infection about four months later, according to the latest report from the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) on Feb. 27.
The CHP stated in its latest issue of Communicable Diseases Watch that the man had been in good health prior to the incident. He was attacked by a wild monkey in late February last year and sustained injuries. In March, he was admitted to the hospital with a fever and confusion. He was treated in the intensive care unit but tragically passed away in mid-June.
In response to the case, "B virus infection" was added to the watchlist of notifiable infectious diseases on April 5 last year to enhance monitoring. The CHP also issued guidelines to doctors on case definitions and reporting criteria and increased public awareness through social media campaigns.
A spokesperson for the CHP warned that the B virus naturally exists in saliva, urine, and feces of macaques. Infected individuals initially present flu-like symptoms, which can escalate to central nervous system infections.
Similar cases have been reported in other places, including the US, Canada, the mainland, and Japan, primarily caused by bites or scratches from monkeys. Human-to-human transmission is extremely rare.
The incident has raised concerns among hikers, with some stating they would avoid carrying plastic bags to prevent becoming targets of monkey attacks. The CHP strongly advises the public to avoid touching or feeding wild monkeys.
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