The available structured metadata identifies this entity as Herpes B virus infection and characterizes it as a viral condition, with the description “Macacine herpesvirus 1 infection surveillance concept” [disease].
Disease overview
Herpes B virus infection
疱疹B病毒感染
Evidence-backed informationEN 7/7 applicable sections · ZH 7/7 applicable sectionsUpdated Sep 3, 2026
Herpes B virus (Macacine herpesvirus 1) is an alphaherpesvirus that naturally infects macaque monkeys and can, in rare zoonotic spillover events, cause severe and often fatal encephalitis in humans, with untreated cases carrying a case fatality rate of approximately 80% [1][2]. Human infection most often follows bites or scratches from infected macaques, or contact between contaminated tissues, fluids, or contaminated sharps and the exposed person's broken skin or mucous membranes, including the eyes, nose, or mouth [1][2]. Early clinical features resemble a nonspecific viral illness, typically beginning within one month of exposure (but sometimes as soon as 3–7 days) with fever and chills, followed by localized vesicles at the wound or contact site and progression to neurologic involvement with brain and spinal cord inflammation [1]. Public-health risk is concentrated in occupational groups such as laboratory workers, veterinarians, and other animal-care personnel who handle macaques, and prevention centers on avoiding macaque contact, using appropriate personal protective equipment, immediately washing any exposure, and obtaining prompt medical assessment [1][2]. Surveillance significance lies in its rarity coupled with high lethality: although general-population risk is very low, every suspected exposure requires rapid clinical evaluation because timely intervention is essential to survival [1][2].
Read the full clinical and epidemiological profile8
Initial manifestations typically appear within 3 to 7 days to one month after exposure and begin with flu-like symptoms such as fever and chills, followed by the development of small blisters at the wound or contact site [1]. As the infection progresses, the virus disseminates to the central nervous system, causing inflammation of the brain and spinal cord that can lead to permanent neurological dysfunction or severe encephalitis [1][2]. Respiratory compromise and death can occur one day to three weeks after symptoms appear, and the case fatality rate in untreated patients is approximately 80% [1][2].
Although the metadata names Macacine herpesvirus 1, the supplied evidence does not further specify affected settings, exposure circumstances, or population-level occurrence [disease].
No source in the payload describes how Herpes B virus infection is transmitted [disease].
Risk-group attribution should therefore be left unspecified until supported by additional evidence [disease].
Use of personal protective equipment is essential when working with macaques, particularly with animals known to harbor the virus, and bites, scratches, and any exposures to mucous membranes must be cleaned immediately to prevent infection [2]. The general public should avoid contact with macaques, and laboratory and animal-facility protocols should be strictly followed [1]. After any potential exposure—such as a bite, scratch, or contact with infected tissue or fluids—affected skin should be washed promptly and the individual should obtain immediate medical assessment [1][2].
In surveillance use, this record should be read conservatively as a named viral infection concept with the etiologic label Macacine herpesvirus 1, rather than as a fully characterized case definition [disease].
- 1US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About B Virus | B Virus | CDC [Internet]. cited 3 Sept 2026.Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/herpes-b-virus/about/index.html
- 2Wikipedia contributors. B virus - Wikipedia [Internet]. Wikipedia. cited 3 Sept 2026.Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_virus
- B00
- 1E90
Coverage
Reporting countries and regions
Trends by reporting country
Monthly patterns over time
Data access
Page dataset index with source links and update metadata.
Official sourcesAuthority, cadence, notes1
JP NIID Weekly
Japan
Japan weekly infectious disease surveillance via NIID/JIHS.