Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease caused by
the Herpes
simplex virus. There are two types of this virus,
one that causes red itchy blister-like sores to appear
on the genitalia. The other causes sores to appear
just above the lip. Herpes is very contagious and
can heighten the risk of a person contracting AIDS
or HIV. .
There is no cure for the herpes simplex virus. Millions
of people contract the virus through sexual activity
everyday. Some people who have herpes do not know
they do as there are no symptoms; these include itching,
painful sores, fever, and pain in the rear end and
leg areas as well vaginal discharge in women.
Apes and Humans
This disease can also affect the animal world, particularly apes, which have very similar inner workings to humans. The common term for the herpes virus monkeys can contract is called Herpes simiae or the b-virus. Herpes virus in monkeys is something that they are born with and only macaque apes can transmit this disease to humans.
If a human is scratched or bitten by a monkey with the infection it can have fatal consequences. People who work in labs dealing with monkeys infected or not must be cautious not to get injured by monkeys. Anyone cut or bitten is immediately rushed to the hospital to get whatever tests or treatments known to ensure the person is not infected. If a person is infected, they are given medications to try and stop the virus, however little success is seen in these. More than 80% of the macaque breed of monkey is infected with the herpes b-virus. Labs do not infect monkeys with the herpes b-virus.
People who work in labs and deal with macaque monkeys, their feces and food are candidates for getting ill with this virus; although it is very rare someone is likely to get the infection. People who own these monkeys put themselves at a higher risk of catching the monkey b-virus as they are not able to recognize the dangers the small symptoms which are equal to that of the flu bug can fatal consequences. The disease will cause no harm to apes but as previously stated can be fatal to humans; there is no known cure for the herpes b-virus for apes or humans, many of the people infected will not survive. There is no need to be scared of apes; most people bitten by monkeys in third world countries were not infected. Those technicians who are at risk for contracting the herpes b-virus are in labs dealing with primates and are extremely cautious around this breed.
Resources
* http://pin.primate.wisc.edu
* www.ashastd.org
