Zoonosis. If saliva contaminates an abrasion in a handler, or is sprayed onto the conjunctiva, then a fatal ascending myelitis/ encephalitis develops in humans; with death occurring 10-20 dpi. Handling tissues or cell cultures (eg those primary kidney cells used for early polio vaccines) from these monkeys has also produced fatal infections.

Treatment of zoonosis consists of hyperimmune serum inoculated both at the site of entry and intraperitoneally. Concurrently repeated doses of formalin inactivated virus are given subcutaneously over the abdomen.

Prevention of zoonosis. Crush cages and face guards should always be used when handling imported old-world monkeys which should not be housed in groups, why?

Monkeys which have been screened for antibodies to this virus are now used in experiments.