The First Human Infection Case of Macacine Alphaherpesvirus 1 Virus in China.

Background: Macacine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BV) was first reported in the 1930s and only about 60 cases have been diagnosed since then.
Methods: A 53-year-old male who worked as a veterinary surgeon, developed a fever with nausea and vomiting in April 2021 in Beijing, China. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and metagenomics Next Generation Sequencing (mNGS) were used for diagnosis.
Results: BV DNA was confirmed by mNGS and PCR. The case died 51 days after onset, due to the damage to the brain and spinal cord caused by a viral infection and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. The typical BV inclusion bodies in the brain were found for the first time.
Conclusions: Here we reported the first human infection case of BV in China. This fatal case highlights the potential threat of BV to occupational workers and the essential role of surveillance.