Possible Herpes B Exposure at Granby Zoo

Summary:

GRANBY, CANADA – The Granby Zoo is asking visitors who might have had physical contact with a Japanese macaque to call public health after a visitor was scratched by the animal earlier this week.

Macaques can carry the Herpes B virus, which is extremely rare in humans but can lead to serious complications if it is not treated quickly.

On Tuesday, a platform accessible to employees near the macaque enclosure was not closed properly, giving visitors access it, explained Dr. Cédric Larouche, a veterinarian at Granby Zoo specializing in zoological medicine, at a news conference on Thursday.

A woman who was visiting with her children who attempted to feed the macaque.

“Then she went to retrieve her child. That’s when she was scratched. But obviously, the exhibit area should not have been accessible to those children or that family,” said Alex Chandonnet, head of animal care. Workers at the zoo aren’t sure if other visitors gained access to the platform, which was not properly secured for a few hours.

The zoo, along with the regional public health department and Santé Québec, says it is monitoring the situation and coordinating the necessary health measures.

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