Rare virus shows risk of monkey encounters

Hong Kong has again made public health headlines for the wrong reasons. In a first for the city, a man contracted a rare deadly virus after a monkey attack in a country park. The case has aroused widespread public concern, and understandably so. Like many others who visited the popular Kam Shan country park, the 37-year-old man had no idea that a monkey encounter in late February would put him in a life-threatening situation. He was admitted to Yan Chai Hospital with a fever and decreased level of consciousness on March 21. A test of his cerebrospinal fluid came back positive for the B virus, which is naturally carried in macaques, a type of wild monkey commonly found in the city.

Human infections of B virus are said to be rare, even more so for human-to-human transmission. Since the virus was discovered in 1932, about 50 human infections have been recorded, with 21 deaths. Infected persons may initially present with flu-like symptoms that may progress to infection of the central nervous system. The death rate for cases without timely treatment can be more than 70 per cent.

Uncommon as it is, the city’s first recorded infection underlines the potential threats for locals and visitors interacting with the animals. Nicknamed the “monkey hill”, the country park has been promoted as an attraction by the authorities, sensibly along with a caution against feeding as well as touching or provoking the animals. However, media reports have shown some people still feeding or interacting with the primates, despite the alert from health officials.

Reports of monkeys causing a nuisance number in the few hundreds every year, though cases of attack remain relatively low.

The animals have learned to snatch bags and become aggressive as a result of illegal feeding by people. Some also stray into residential areas nearby in search for food because of interaction with humans.

It remains true that monkeys have, by and large, stayed in their habitat without causing major problems. This owes much to having a correct policy for balance and harmony between human activity and wildlife. This can be maintained by refraining from feeding them and upsetting their natural way of life. The government also can help by keeping the animal’s population at sustainable levels.