Herpes B Virus: What Is It?

Herpes B is a virus that certain monkeys may have. When the monkey gets the Herpes B Virus, it makes a blister on or near the monkey’s lips. After the blister heals, the virus hides inside the monkey and you would not know the monkey has had the virus. The virus may be in their mouth, hands or other body parts.  Herpes B Virus does not make monkeys very sick. Herpes B Virus can make people very sick and even cause a person to die.
When a person gets sick from the B virus, they have a flu-like sickness. The person may have a high fever, sick stomach, numbness, itching, tingling, or pain.

How Is Herpes B Virus Spread?

B virus lives in the mouth and in the body of certain monkeys. When a monkey bites, scratches or spits on a worker, the virus may pass to that worker. Fully-grown animals are more likely than baby animals to pass the virus.

How Is Herpes B Virus Diagnosed?

Herpes B Virus is diagnosed by getting a blood sample from both you and the monkey that caused the wound. First, on the day of an injury from a monkey, Occupational Health gets a swab of the wound from you. Next, the swab and blood samples are sent to an outside laboratory for testing. The Occupational Health Clinic will ask you to return for follow-up blood and wound samples at two, four and six weeks after the injury. The results of the virus tests determine whether you were infected with Herpes B Virus.

How Is Herpes B Virus Treated?

Immediately after a bite, scratches, or splash, flush the wound many times with water. Next, scrub the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes to kill the virus. Afterwards and immediately, do not delay, come to Occupational Health so a trained health care professional can see the wound and treat you quickly. After hours, go to the Vanderbilt Emergency Department. 
If Herpes B Virus infection is documented (by blood test) or you have any signs/symptoms of Herpes B Virus infection, you will be hospitalized for IV medication. During hospitalization, a physician familiar with Herpes B Virus will closely monitor you.

What Are The Preventive Measures For Herpes B Virus?

* Always wear appropriate personal protective equipment when working with monkeys. This includes cap, mask, gown, gloves, dedicated shoes or shoe covers, and eye protection.
* Always wash your hands after removing personal protective equipment.
* Use common sense when working with monkeys. Follow safety policy.

IF YOU ARE EXPOSED, there are four important aspects to successful treatment:

1) Do Not Delay Your Treatment
2) Clean the wound immediately.
3) Get medical care early (go to Occupational Health; after hours go to the Vanderbilt Emergency Department.)
4) Follow directions for medication and follow-up care.
To receive more information or to ask questions about Herpes B Virus call

Vanderbilt Occupational Health Clinic
936-0955
OR
Division of Animal Care
322-2231