Explained: What is Monkey B Virus that has claimed its first victim in China The Monkey B Virus has been reported in China, where a veterinary surgeon died after he contacted it while dissecting two monkeys. advertisement UPDATED: July 19, 2021 16:33 IST The Monkey BV is caused by macaques, a genus of Old World monkeys. (Representative Photo/Getty) As the world grapples with the devastating Covid-19 pandemic, a new viral infection has been reported in China. The Monkey B Virus (BV) claimed its first victim in the country after a veterinary surgeon contacted the virus while dissecting two animals. The case, first reported in March of this year, was revealed in the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) briefing last week. The surgeon died in May after visiting several hospitals. According to reports, analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid from the patient indicated alphaherpesvirus infection.