Nonhuman primates (NHPs) can harbour multiple zoonotic pathogens owing to their close phylogenetic relationship and frequent interactions with humans. They can also be extremely successful ecological invaders. Within the United States, fewer than or equal to NHP species have been introduced and of them, the rhesus macaque has successfully established populations in Florida and Puerto Rico. The animals are the most frequently used NHP species in biomedical research. In laboratory settings, rhesus macaques are considered an occupational health threat because they harbour macacine herpesvirus 1, also known as herpes B virus. Now, they might carry this virus in the wild and transmit it to humans, as per a report by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
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