Three tigers and two lions in a zoo in New York City has a dry cough. At least one tiger has coronavirus.
A tiger in a zoo in the New York city borough of the Bronx have tested positive for the coronavirus.
this is The first time that an animal is diagnosed with coronasmitte in the UNITED states. It says a spokesman for the Bronx Zoo, according to news agency Reuters.
at the same time, it is the first time that a tiger is confirmed infected worldwide, he adds.
The zoo was aware that tiger by the name of Nadia, who is four years old, had corona virus, after the animal had developed a dry cough.
Dry cough is one of the symptoms of covid-19, as the disease triggered by the virus.
Also two other tigers as well as three african lions have a dry cough, inform the Wildlife Conservation Society, which operates the city’s zoos, according to AFP news agency.
‘We tested the cat for the sake of security and will ensure that all new knowledge about the covid-19 can contribute to the world’s understanding of the new virus in a message.’
‘Even though the cats have had a decreased appetite, they have it good and are under dyrelægers supervision, pay full attention and interact with their dyrepassere.’
‘It is not known how the disease develops in the big cats, since different species can react differently to new infections, but we will follow them closely and expect that they come out completely.’
Four zoos and an aquarium in New York City – where the death toll of corona virus has exceeded 2000 – has been closed since 16. march.
the Bronx Zoo stresses according to AFP, that there is no evidence that animals are playing any role in the spread of infection among people, beyond the first infection, which is supposed to have happened in China’s Hubei province.
There is no infection from animals to humans in the UNITED states.
The chinese health authorities believe they have identified a market in megapolis Wuhan in China as the original source of the infection.
It is clear that the new coronavirus carries a high degree of similarity with a virus found in bats. If they are the direct source of infection, is debated still.
The us authorities recommend continue, to people with coronavirus keeps the distance for their pets, “until you know more of the virus”. It writes the AFP.
Late in march was a cat in Belgium tested positive for the coronavirus. Also two dogs in Hong kong have been diagnosed with the virus.
/ritzau/
