Herpes B virus: History, zoonotic potential, and public health implications

Recently, death from herpes B virus (Cercopithecine Herpesvirus 1) infection was reported in China, reminding us to be alert to the risk of transmission and infection with herpes B virus. Herpes B virus is a zoonotic pathogen that can cause fatal encephalomyelitis in humans. The virus naturally infects rhesus monkeys, causing diseases like human herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection, which are often asymptomatic or mild in the rhesus macaque. However, herpes B virus infection can be fatal to humans. Without timely treatment, the mortality rate of herpes B virus infection is as high as 70%-80%. To date, approximately 50 cases of human herpes B virus (HBV) infection have been reported worldwide. Most cases are related to direct contact with macaques, such as scratching, biting, or mucosal contact with monkey body fluids or secretions. Although the risk of human to-human transmission is low, the widespread prevalence of the virus among monkeys, the high mortality of infected persons, and the severe neurological sequelae of survivors render this virus an important zoonotic pathogen that threatens human beings. Biorisk-related training programs for at risk personnel and timely treatment after exposure to the B virus can reduce infection rate and mortality. The early initiation of antiviral therapy prevents severe disease or death after the rapid diagnosis of human B virus disease. Identification of risk factors is essential in controlling the spread of the herpes B virus in the population at risk.(c) 2022 Chinese Medical Association Publishing House. Published by Elsevier BV. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).