Horny herpes-riddled monkeys need to chew and scratch people as US state on lockdown
Sightings of herpes-riddled rhesus macaque monkeys in the Sunshine State are on the rise, with bites and scratches from the feral critters proving fatal to humans
Wild monkeys in Florida, US, have tested positive for Herpes B virus with humans warned to stay out of their way as contracting the disease could prove deadly.
When it comes to dodging deadly wildlife, Floridians primarily need to be on the lookout for alligators. But now sightings of horny herpes-riddled rhesus macaque monkeys in the Sunshine State are on the rise, adding to the list of things to be worried about. According to Click Orlando, nearly 200 of the STD-carrying monkeys roam around Florida’s Silver Spring State Park, where they were introduced almost 100 years ago. Marion, Seminole and Lake counties have seen an increase in monkey sightings, the outlet reports.
“If you are in a place with macaque monkeys, stay away from them so that you don’t get bitten or scratched,” the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention states on its website. “You should not touch or feed monkeys.”
The Herpes B virus can cause an “extremely rare” but “serious and even deadly” infection, according to the CDC. The first signs of infection include fever and chills, but then it’s possible to develop small blisters. The virus can then cause swelling in the brain and spinal cord, leading in rare cases to “severe brain damage of death” if contracted.
If fed, the monkeys might get angry which can make them more prone to scratching or biting, the CDC warns.
Last year, an expert advised how to survive an attack from these feral beasts, after villagers in India feared for their lives following a three day assault by a rampaging monkey.
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She said: “In situations where they see humans as a source of food because humans have fed them in the past monkeys can get very pushy to the point of stealing and even attacking a human.
“Do not run away, as this will show your fear and subordination to them triggering even more of their aggressive instincts.”
