People who visited Granby Zoo in Quebec on Tuesday, August 4, are being asked to check whether they had direct physical contact with a Japanese macaque after public health officials issued a precautionary warning over possible exposure to herpes B virus.
The notice follows an isolated incident involving a visitor and one of the zoo’s Japanese macaques. Granby Zoo said the accidental contact occurred in a secure area normally reserved for staff. The visitor received first aid, underwent medical follow-up and was reported to be doing well.
The advisory now applies to anyone else who may have had direct contact through the fence with a macaque on August 4. People who were bitten or scratched, or whose fresh wound or mucous membrane was exposed to the animal’s saliva, are being advised to contact Quebec’s Info-SantĂ© service at 811.
Simply visiting the zoo or viewing the macaques does not amount to the type of exposure identified in the warning.
What happened at Granby Zoo on August 4?
After learning of the initial incident, Granby Zoo carried out an internal investigation and reviewed its procedures. The facility said measures were also put in place to support potentially exposed people and the health professionals assessing them.
On Thursday, August 6, the zoo shared recommendations on social media in collaboration with public health authorities. The guidance focused specifically on visitors who were in the Japanese macaque section on August 4 and had physical contact with an animal through the fence.
Dr. Mélissa Généreux, a medical adviser with the Public Health Department of Santé Québec Estrie–CHUS, noted in information shared by the zoo that macaques can carry herpes B virus. Human infection is extremely rare, but it can lead to serious complications if treatment is delayed.
Why herpes B virus exposure requires quick attention
B virus is associated with macaques, which can carry the virus without showing obvious signs of illness. For humans, infection is rare, but the potential severity makes the nature of an exposure important.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on B virus, transmission can occur through a bite or scratch from an infected macaque or when infected tissue or fluid reaches broken skin, the eyes, nose or mouth.
Symptoms usually begin within one month of exposure but can appear in as little as three to seven days. Early signs can resemble the flu, including fever and chills, while small blisters may develop around the area that came into contact with the animal.
As the disease progresses, it can cause inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. That is why officials are recommending assessment after a qualifying exposure rather than asking people to wait for symptoms.
The Granby Zoo notice is an exposure alert, not evidence of a wider outbreak. Similar targeted public health notices are used when officials can identify a particular place, date and group that may require follow-up, as seen with measles flight and public-location exposure alerts in Canada.
Who should call 811 after a Granby Zoo visit?
The key date is August 4. A visitor should contact Info-SantĂ© at 811 if they were scratched or bitten by a Japanese macaque, if the animal’s saliva reached a fresh wound, or if saliva came into contact with a mucous membrane such as the eyes, nose or mouth.
People who only walked past the enclosure, watched the animals or spent time elsewhere in the zoo without physical contact are not included in the group identified for follow-up.
This distinction helps put the risk in perspective. The warning does not mean that everyone present at Granby Zoo on August 4 was exposed, and it does not establish that any other visitor has contracted B virus.
The targeted health notice is also different from broad emergency warnings sent to large populations. Canada uses systems such as Alert Ready for emergency notifications across phones, television and radio, while the Granby Zoo advisory is directed only at people who may meet specific exposure criteria.
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What exposed visitors should do now
Anyone whose August 4 contact matches the situations described by public health should call 811 promptly instead of waiting to see whether illness develops. A health professional can assess the circumstances and determine whether further medical care is needed.
For a macaque exposure, the CDC recommends immediately washing and gently scrubbing the affected area with soap, detergent or iodine for 15 minutes, followed by running water over it for another 15 to 20 minutes. Medical attention should then be sought, with the healthcare provider told about the macaque contact.
There is no vaccine that protects people against B virus infection. Depending on the level of exposure, healthcare professionals may determine that antiviral medication is appropriate.
For most people who visited Granby Zoo that Tuesday, the practical question is whether direct contact actually occurred. Those who only observed the Japanese macaques do not fall within the exposure group described in the advisory, while anyone who remembers a bite, scratch or relevant saliva contact should seek an assessment through 811.
Last updated August 7, 2026. This article is based on information released by Granby Zoo and public health officials, with medical guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is provided for informational purposes and does not replace individual medical advice.
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