B-Virus:��A Threat to Human Health in Palau��Monkeys: Invasive Alien Species

B-Virus�Also known as cercopithecine herpesvirus

• Common – and not a serious disease – in macaque monkeys
• Rare – and very serious – in humans
• Devastating infection of the central nervous system
• Fatal in approximately 70-80% of human cases
• Transmitted from infected monkeys to humans in body fluids – blood, saliva, urine
• Transmitted by bites, scratches, and handling of monkeys
• Wild populations of macaque monkeys are typically higher than 70% infected with B-Virus
• Older wild monkeys are more likely to be infected than younger monkeys

B-Virus Symptoms

• B-virus attacks the central nervous system - brain and spinal cord - causing fatal encephalomyelitis or severe neurologic impairment (brain damage)
• Often starts with general influenza-like symptoms of fever, muscle aches, fatigue, and headache
• Other early symptoms include nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and hiccups

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B-Virus Symptoms

Neurologic signs develop when the virus spreads to the central nervous system. These may include:

• Confusion
• Difficulty swallowing
• Double vision
• Dizziness
• Difficulty speaking
• Paralysis, with tremors
• Coma
• Death

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B-Virus in Palau

• Wild populations of macaque monkeys are typically higher than 70% infected with B-Virus
• Older wild monkeys more likely to be infected than younger monkeys
• Monkeys in Palau are known to be infected with B-Virus
• 27% of captive monkeys tested in Palau in 2009 were positive for B-Virus – most were captured very young
• Wild monkeys on Angaur almost certainly have a much higher rate of infection

B-virus is fatal in 70-80% of human cases

Aaaww,��Isn’t it Cute??

… but don’t be fooled…

MONKEYS ARE DANGEROUS!

• Many people in Palau have been bitten and/or scratched by captive monkeys
• Some of these bites/scratches have resulted in life-threatening infections
• Is it possible that human cases of B-virus have been mis-diagnosed?