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B Virus (Herpesvirus simiae) Infection in Humans: Epidemiologic Investigation of a Cluster
- Gary P. Holmes, MD;
- Julia K. Hilliard, PhD;
- Karl C. Klontz, MD;
- Angus H. Rupert, MD;
- Christine M. Schindler, MD;
- Eva Parrish, RN;
- D. Gary Griffin, MD;
- George S. Ward, DVM;
- Norman D. Bernstein, MD;
- Terrell W. Bean, MD;
- Michael R. Ball, Sr.;
- James A. Brady;
- Michael H. Wilder, MD; and
- Jonathan E. Kaplan, MD
Abstract
A cluster of four cases of symptomatic B virus infection in humans occurred in Pensacola, Florida, in March 1987. Three cases occurred in persons who worked with monkeys at a research facility, and the fourth resulted from apparent autoinoculation through use of a nonprescription skin cream. Contact tracing identified 159 persons who may have been exposed to B virus (21 had been exposed to monkeys at the facility and 138 had been exposed to one or more of the case-patients), but no further cases were identified. Comparisons of restriction endonuclease patterns from B virus isolates linked two of the three cases in monkey handlers to one clinically ill monkey and the other to a second, healthy monkey. Three risk factors for human infection were identified: nonuse of mechanical or chemical restraints for monkeys before handling, nonuse of available protective gear, and direct viral inoculation through the application of a topical medication.
Article and Author Information
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From Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia; Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, Texas; Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, Tallahassee, Florida; and Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, Escambia County Public Health Unit, Naval Hospital, and Baptist Hospital, Pensacola, Florida. For current author addresses, see end of text.
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Grant Support: In part by grant RR03163-02103 from the National Institutes of Health and by the Centers for Disease Control.
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Requests for Reprints: Gary P. Holmes, MD, Division of Viral Diseases, Building 6-127, Mailstop A32, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333.
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Current Author Addresses: Drs. Holmes and Kaplan: Division of Viral Diseases, Building 6-127, Mailstop A32, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333.
Dr. Hilliard: Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, P.O. Box 28147, San Antonio, TX 78284-2500.
Dr. Klontz: Clinical Nutrition Branch, HFF-265, Food and Drug Administration, 200 C Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20204.
LCDR Rupert and CAPT Brady: Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Pensacola, FL 32508-5700.
Dr. Schindler: Naval Hospital San Diego, Occupational Health Unit, Naval Station Building 3300, San Diego, CA 92136-5146.
Ms. Parrish: Escambia County Public Health Unit, P.O. Box 12604, Pensacola, FL 32574.
Dr. Griffin: 3101 North 12th Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32503. Dr. Ward: Laboratory Animal Breeders and Services, P.O. Box 557, Yemassee, SC 29945.
Dr. Bernstein: Mary Washington Hospital, 2300 Fall Hill Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA 22401.
CAPT Bean: U.S. Naval Hospital, Okinawa, Japan, FPO Seattle 98778-1610.
Mr. Ball: Occupational Health and Preventive Medicine Department, Code 36, Naval Hospital Pensacola, Pensacola, FL 32512.
Dr. Wilder: Florida State University, Thagard Student Health Services, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2014.
- ©1990 American College of Physicians
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