MATTAWAN, Mich. -- A research technician at International Research Development Corp. died Tuesday, a week after he contracted a rare form of herpes from a bite or scratch by an infected laboratory monkey.
The virus, common and harmless in Old World macaque monkeys, 'is very rare among humans but proves fatal in 70 percent of the people who catch it,' said Dr. William Hall, chief of disease surveillance for the Michigan Department of Public Health.
Hall said state health officials are monitoring 21 of the technician's co-workers who have been bitten or scratched by the laboratory monkeys. The department has recommended other workers be treated and tested as a precaution, he said.
The 23-year-old technician, whose name was withheld at his family's request, was infected with the 'B' or 'monkey' virus while working with a large number of Old World macaque monkeys at the firm, which performs research for medical, pharmaceutical, veterinary and agricultural companies.
Doctors at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo diagnosed the virus last Friday, three days after the technician was hospitalized with a seizure. He died Tuesday afternoon.
Hall said physicians linked the lesions on the researcher's chest to the herpes virus, which is said to be carried by up to 60 percent of the macaque monkeys used in primate research centers in the United States.
'The virus is genetically related to the herpes virus that causes cold sores in humans,' he said. 'It's the monkey's version of that type of herpes virus. While it causes only mild, if any, discomfort in monkeys, it can be fatal in humans.'
Hall said his staff by Monday had interviewed and tested 94 of the research company's employees whose job puts them in direct contact with the monkeys.
'As a precaution, we recommend monitoring only the 21 who received scratches or bites from the monkeys or had open wounds when handling potentially infectious monkeys,' he said. The employees will be rested for the next month because of the disease's incubation period.
Meanwhile, Hall said the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating to see if the company's practices violated state regulations.
International Research Development officials said the death could have been averted if the technician had followed company policy and immediately reported all scratches and bites.
'Unfortunately, cuts and scratches among technicians who work with monkeys are so common, they often dismiss them,' said company spokesman James Webb. 'But standard operating procedure requires them to report any such contact or injury so that they can follow the disinfecting, treating and monitoring procedures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta.'
Hall said the herpes virus is spread through bites and scratches and 'is not readily contagious from person to person.
'Only about 30 cases have been documented in humans since 1932. Of those, only four of them were in the U.S. and only one, in Florida, was transmitted from person-to-person.'
