On July 16, China reported the first death from the Monkey B virus in history. An individual identified as a veterinarian in Beijing was infected with a monkey in March and died on May 27.

The case fatality rate of Monkey B virus (BV), also known as herpes B virus, is 70-80%, according to the English journal “China CDC Weekly” of the China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Quoted in the July 17 report.. Close contact with the deceased was reportedly tested in April and was virus-free.

Humans, according to the US CDC Usually infected Accompanied by BV when bitten or scratched by an infected macaque monkey, or when touching the macaque’s eyes, nose, or mouth. The CDC emphasized that there is only one case of human-to-human transmission of BV recorded in history.

It is unknown what kind of monkey the victim was in contact with when infected with the virus.

First death in China

The veterinarian who died was 53 years old. He worked at a breeding and testing facility for non-human primates in Beijing.

On March 4th and 6th, veterinarians dissected two dead monkeys. According to the report, one month after dissection, the veterinarian “experienced nausea and vomiting followed by fever with neurological symptoms.”

Veterinarians were asked to visit several hospitals for treatment because the Beijing doctor had no experience of BV infection, but the doctor collected cerebrospinal fluid and the cerebrospinal fluid of two colleagues. A related virus that was not diagnosed until the monkey was examined.

The results showed that the veterinarian was infected with BV.

The Chinese CDC and a group of scientists at the Capital Medical University conclude in their report:

Healthcare professionals deliver patients to a fever clinic in a hospital in Beijing, China, on January 13, 2021. (GREGBAKER / AFP via Getty Images)

According to the US CDC, BV infections begin with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, malaise, and headaches. Symptoms usually begin within a month of exposure to BV-infected monkeys.

The first human infection was confirmed in 1932, and since then only 50 cases of human infection have been reported. Most of them came into contact with monkeys and 21 died.