First of Her Kind: Tiger at Bronx Zoo Tests Positive for COVID-19
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A four-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo tests positive for COVID-19, first of her kind according to a recently published article.
A FOUR-YEAR-OLD MALAYAN TIGER TESTS POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS
Nadia, the name of the tiger, is the first recorded animal in the United States to have tested positive for COVID-19. The test result of the four-year-old tiger has been confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Iowa.
It is believed that Nadia, along with the other six big cats, has been infected by an asymptomatic zookeeper. Late last month after these animals were exposed to the zookeeper, officials observed that the big cats started to exhibit a dry cough and other respiratory illnesses that are linked to COVID-19, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.
Paul Calle, the chief veterinarian at the zoo, said: "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."
He also added: "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. Still, we will continue to monitor them closely and anticipate full recoveries."
There have been reports around the world that pets test positive for COVID-19. However, the theory that a man can transmit the virus to an animal is not yet scientifically proven. Calle is now planning to share the findings with other zoos and institutions about the transmission to show if COVID-19 is transmissible from humans to animals or not.
In the official statement released by the zoo, it says: "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."
Nadia, along with other cats, is now expected to recover. They also confirmed that the infected animals decrease their appetite, but they are bright, alert, and interactive. The zookeepers and veterinarians also give them special attention.
The zoo also said that they do not know as to how lions and tigers developed the virus since various animals react to the infections differently. They also make sure that other animals in the zoo are now closely monitored.
They said: "Our cats were infected by a person caring for them who was asymptomatically infected with the virus or before that person developed symptoms," Moreover, all tigers that are showing COVID-19 symptoms are now housed in the Zoo's Mountain area. However, it is still not clear if the rest of the tigers will be tested for the virus.
ANIMALS AND THE VIRUS
There have been many reports around the world, claiming that the virus can be transmitted from humans to animals. However, this is not yet scientifically proven.
It can be recalled that the origin of this virus was from a market in Wuhan, China, and it is thought that wild animals transmitted it to humans.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been always believed that can only be transmitted from human-to-human. However, with the recent infection of the tiger in the Bronx zoo, it now raises another question if is it possible to transmit the virus from humans to animals.
The World Health Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health believed that there is no evidence yet that dogs or cats can pass the virus. Moreover, research is currently ongoing in regard to this matter.
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