Explained: Will Monkey B virus lead to another catastrophe? China records 1st death

New Delhi: While the world grapples with the devastating Covid-19 pandemic for almost 2 years now, China has registered yet another deadly viral infection. Recently, it recorded 1st human death apparently after being infected with Monkey B Virus.

According to reports, he contracted the virus while dissecting two animals. The veterinary surgeon died in despite receiving treatment in several hospitals and eventually died on May 27.

The case was first reported in March 2021 and was officially revealed in the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) briefing last week.

What is Monkey B Virus (BV)?

Monkey B Virus is caused by macaques, a group of old world monkeys. The B virus is also referred by other names like herpes B, herpesvirus B. The virus is transmitted from macaques but not just humans but chimpanzees & capuchin can also get infected and die.

In 1933, fist case of human infection from Monkey B Virus was reported. A laboratory worker was bitten by a monkey, he recovered but days later, he developed febrile disease and died after 15 days of disease infecting his central nervous system.

What are the symptoms of Monkey B Virus?

Initial symptoms take time to surface. Usually, it takes 1-3 weeks after exposure to the virus. Symptoms of the disease include include fever, chills, muscle ache, fatigue, and headache.

Highly fatal disease, 70-80 of 100 infected people die

According to a report by US National Library of Medicine, Monkey B Virus is known to invade central nervous system when it is transmitted to humans. The virus transmitted disease has a high fatality rate of 70-80%.

*Can it turn into a potential pandemic? *
Experts and researchers believe that transmission rate from human to human is less, when it comes to Monkey B virus. Therefore, it may not amplify into a global catastrophe.