Beijing’s first human infection case with Monkey B virus died

A Beijing-based veterinarian who was confirmed as China’s first human infection case with Monkey B virus (BV) has died.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz 2021

The virus, initially isolated in 1932, is an alphaherpesvirus enzootic in macaques of the genus Macaca.

B virus is the only identified old-world-monkey herpesvirus that displays severe pathogenicity in humans.

The infection can be transmitted via direct contact and exchange of bodily secretions of monkeys and has a fatality rate of 70 per cent to 80 per cent.

Macaque monkeys commonly have this virus, and it can be found in their saliva, feces (poop), urine (pee), or brain or spinal cord tissue. The virus may also be found in cells coming from an infected monkey in a lab.

Humans can get infected if they are bitten or scratched by an infected monkey; get an infected monkey’s tissue or fluid on broken skin or in eyes, nose, or mouth; scratch or cut oneself on a contaminated cage or other sharp-edged surface or get exposed to the brain (especially), spinal cord, or skull of an infected monkey.