A tiger, named Nadia, is probably a first confirmed case of an animal infected with COVID-19 in the United States.
New York| A tiger, named Nadia, is probably a first confirmed case of an animal infected with COVID-19 in the United States.
The famous Bronx Zoo, located in New York City, says test results were confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Iowa.
The tiger is suspected to be infected with 6 other big cats by an asymptomatic zookeeper.
The animals started showing symptoms, such as dry cough, late last month.
They are suspected to be infected by an employee of the zoo, who is yet to be identified.
“This is the first time that any of us know of anywhere in the world that a person infected the animal and the animal got sick,” Paul Calle, the chief veterinarian at the zoo told the news agency Reuters on Sunday.
There have been odd instances of pets getting infected with the coronavirus in the world, but experts said that there is hardly any evidence that they can get sick or spread the disease further.
Mr. Calle said showed a willingness in sharing his findings with other zoos and institutions researching the transmission of COVID-19.
“We tested the cat [Nadia] 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,” the zoo has said in a statement.
Nadia, her sister Azul, as well as two Amur tigers and three African lions who showed symptoms will all possibly recover fully, the zoo said.
“The big cats did have some decrease in appetite but are otherwise doing well under veterinary care and are bright, alert, and interactive with their keepers,” the zoo added further.
The zoo also said, “Our cats were infected by a person caring for them who was asymptomatically infected with the virus or before that person developed symptoms.”
Tigers showing symptoms were shifted to Zoo’s Tiger Mountain area.
Wildlife Conservation Society in New York City runs four zoos, including the Bronx zoo. All the zoos have been closed for the public from 16 March. New measures are expected to be taken to secure animals and their caretakers.
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