Intruder who broke into monkey enclosure in Tasmania at risk of ‘potentially fatal’ herpes

The intruder was trying to steal coins from the enclosure's moat

Authorities in Australia are urging a person who broke into a monkey enclosure to urgently seek medical attention because they may have been exposed to "potentially fatal" herpes. On Tuesday night, an intruder broke into an enclosure that houses macaque monkeys in an attempt to steal coins from a moat surrounding the enclosure. Along with damaging the electric fence, Launceston council said they were concerned the intruder had been exposed to the herpes B virus. In a statement, the city council urged the intruder to seek medical help "as a matter of urgency." They said: "On Tuesday night an unidentified intruder broke into the City Park monkey enclosure, causing damage to the electric fencing and stealing coins out of the surrounding moat. "Unfortunately this action has potentially exposed the intruder to the Herpes B virus, which is carried by the City Park monkeys. "The virus can be asymptomatically shed by the monkeys through bodily fluids and 'fomites' — that is, any material that has come into contact with the virus, which includes the water in the enclosure. Related links:

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