- Man admitted to the hospital March 21 is in critical condition
- Health department warns people to stay away from wild monkeys
A 37-year-old man who is in critical condition after being attacked by monkeys in a Hong Kong country park has tested positive for B virus, making him the first person in the city to contract the deadly infection.
Hong Kong authorities are investigating the case and warning the public to refrain from touching or feeding wild monkeys. Anyone wounded by monkeys should seek immediate medical attention, the Centre for Health Protection said in a statement on Wednesday.
The man was admitted to the hospital for fever and decreased consciousness on March 21, agency said. Family members said he was wounded during a visit to Kam Shan Country Park, a hiking destination known for its troop of wild monkeys, in late February, the report said.
This was the first person to contract the disease in Hong Kong. The first case in the world was in New York.