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Published
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Bronx Zoo tiger
infected with covid-19is doing well, said authorities By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo in the U.S. reported that Nadia, a 4-year-old female Malayan tiger, tested positive for covid-19 last week. “She, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers, and three African lions had developed a dry cough and all are expected to recover,” according to the Bronx Zoo in its statement. This positive covid-19 test for the tiger was confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory, based in Ames, Iowa. “We tested the cat out of an abundance of caution and will ensure any knowledge we gain about covid-19 will contribute to the world’s continuing understanding of this novel coronavirus,” said the zoo authorities. Though they have experienced some decrease in appetite, the cats at the Bronx Zoo are otherwise doing well under veterinary care and are bright, alert, and interactive with their keepers. It is not known how this disease will develop in big cats since different species can react differently to novel infections, but the specialists will continue to monitor them closely and anticipate full recoveries. The four affected tigers live in the zoo’s Tiger Mountain exhibit. One male Amur tiger that also lives at Tiger Mountain has not exhibited any clinical signs and a Malayan tiger and two Amur tigers at the zoo’s Wild Asia exhibit have also not exhibited any clinical signs. None of the zoo’s snow leopards, cheetahs, clouded leopard, Amur leopard, puma are showing any signs of illness. “Our cats were infected by a person caring for them who was asymptomatically infected with the virus or before that person developed symptoms,” said the zoo in its statement. “Appropriate preventive measures are now in place for all staff who are caring for them, and the other cats in our four WCS zoos, to prevent further exposure of any other of our zoo cats.” According to the zoo’s statement, they received cooperation and support of the New York State Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell University and the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, where the initial covid-19 testing of samples from the tiger were performed; the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory where confirmatory testing was conducted; USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; and the New York and Illinois State Veterinarians and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for their assistance. There is no evidence that animals play a role in the transmission of covid-19 to people other than the initial event in the Wuhan market in China. There is no evidence that any person has been infected with covid-19 in the U.S. by animals, including by pet dogs or cats, said the Bronx Zoo in its statement. The Bronx Zoo is located on 265 acres of hardwood forest in Bronx, NY. It opened on Nov. 8, and has been temporarily closed since March 16. ------------------- Should governments start an investigation to confirm or rule out the covid-19 transmission via physical contact between animals and humans? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com More stories
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