All You Need To Know About Monkey B Virus After China Reports First Death From The Disease

What is Monkey b virus? China has reported its first case of human infection and death due to Monkey B Virus (BV). A 53-year-old Beijing-based veterinary surgeon was infected with the virus after dissecting two dead monkeys in early March. The veterinarian experienced nausea and vomiting a month later followed by fever and neurological symptoms. He visited several hospitals after noticing his symptoms but eventually died on May 27, 2021.

What is Monkey B Virus?

Monkey B Virus infection, also known as Simian B Virus infection is caused by a type of herpes virus- alphaherpesvirus. The infectious disease is contracted mainly by laboratory workers who get exposed to infected monkeys or laboratory tissue cultures that consist of the Simian B Virus. In the infection, the brain and the membrane around it are invaded by the virus. The infection can also affect the spinal cord and cause neurological damages. While Monkey b virus cases are extremely rare, if not treated properly, they can be fatal.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only one case of an infected person spreading the virus to another person has been documented yet.

What are the symptoms of Monkey B Virus Infection?

The infection of Monkey B Virus is characterised by fever, headache, vomiting, stiff neck and back, and general discomfort. The symptoms of the infection may also be associated with respiratory difficulties, vision problems, neuromuscular dysfunction, personality changes, cranial nerve abnormalities, and seizures and/or partial paralysis. Some patients infected with the virus can also go into a coma.

What are the causes of Monkey B Virus Infection?

Monkey B virus is highly common among certain Asiatic Monkeys that belong to the "Macaca" genus. The disease is know to have 80 or 90 percent of fatality rate. The infection in humans may result due to direct exposure to contaminated saliva or body fluids from infected monkeys, which can be through bites or scratches. Other than this, one can also get exposed to the virus in a laboratory that works with these monkeys.

Image Credit: Livemint/The Siasat Daily

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