Animals Involved
Carried in genus Macaca (Old World macaques), with lifelong latency and potential for periodic shedding after infection; other nonhuman primates susceptible; cell cultures
Known Distributions
Worldwide, can be common, especially in closed groups of macaques; human cases rare
Probable Means of Spreading
Monkey bites and scratches, contamination of mucous membranes with infected saliva, secretions
Clinical Manifestations in People
Influenzalike symptoms; vesicular skin lesions, pain, or itching around wound, followed by severe encephalitis with seizures, paralysis, coma; 85% mortality rate