Man in Critical Condition with B Virus After Encounter with Wild Monkeys in Hong Kong

A 37-year-old man from Hong Kong is currently in a critical condition after being infected with the B virus following an encounter with wild monkeys at Kam Shan Country Park, also known as Monkey Mountain.

The man, who was admitted to Yan Chai Hospital on March 21, is being treated in the Intensive Care Unit after suffering from symptoms of the B virus infection, as confirmed by the Centre for Health Protection.

The B virus, naturally present in macaque monkeys’ saliva, urine, and stool, is rare but can lead to severe health complications, including brain damage and even death without prompt treatment, as described by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Senior Fauna Conservation Officer from the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department, Shek Chung-tong, emphasized the importance of avoiding direct contact or feeding wild monkeys to prevent further infections.

The Public Health Laboratory Services Branch confirmed the B virus infection in the patient, highlighting the urgency of early antiviral treatment within the first few days of contracting the virus.

Cases of the B virus have been reported in various countries including the United States, Canada, Japan, and most notably in China where a veterinarian succumbed to the virus, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.