A human may become infected following an exposure to monkeys infected with Herpes B virus (Cercopithecine Herpesvirus 1, CeHV-1). The number of people who actually develop an infection is low relative to the number of potential exposures.
Incubation period: usually 5 to 21 days (may be 2 to 35 days)
Findings at the site of exposure:
(1) vesicular rash
(2) tingling, itching, pain or numbness
(3) regional lymphadenopathy
Over time the patient may develop:
(1) fever
(2) myalgias
(3) paresthesias or weakness in the affected limb
(4) abdominal pain
(5) sinusitis
(6) conjunctivitis
Signs of CNS involvement (encephalomyelitis):
(1) nausea and vomiting
(2) persistent headache
(3) meningismus
(4) confusion
(5) diplopia
(6) dysphagia
(7) dizziness
(8) dysarthria
(9) ataxia
(10) cranial nerve palsies
(11) seizures
(12) hemiplegia or hemiparesis
(13) ascending paralysis
(14) coma
(15) respiratory failure
Without antiviral therapy the mortality is high (80% or more).
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
