Sunday, April 5, 2020

A tiger at the Bronx Zoo tests positive for the coronavirus, and other big cats there appear ill.

A tiger at the Bronx Zoo tests positive for the coronavirus, and other big cats there appear ill.

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Credit...Gregg Vigliotti for The New York Times

begin partial quote from:
A tiger at the Bronx zoo has been confirmed to be infected with Covid-19, in what is believed to be a case of what one official called “human-to-cat transmission.”
“This is the first instance of a tiger being infected with Covid-19,” according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which noted that although only one tiger was tested, the virus appeared to have infected other animals as well.
“Several lions and tigers at the zoo showed symptoms of respiratory illness,” according to a statement by the Agriculture Department.
Public health officials believe that the large cats caught the virus from a zoo employee. The tiger appeared visibly sick by March 27.
In a statement, the Agriculture Department suggested that those infected with the virus should, “out of an abundance of caution,” avoid contact with their pets and other animals.

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