A 4-year-old female Malayan tiger at a zoo in New York City has tested positive for coronavirus, according to results from the National Veterinary Services Laboratories at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Officials say this is the first report of a tiger becoming infected with COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.
USDA said samples from the tiger, named Nadia, were taken and evaluated after several lions and tigers at the Bronx Zoo presented symptoms of respiratory illness. The zoo said Nadia, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers and three African lions had developed a dry cough and decrease in appetite. They are all expected to recover.
Health officials say the large cats got sick from being exposed to a zoo employee who had COVID-19, but was asymptomatic. The Bronx Zoo has been closed since mid-March; the first tiger began showing signs of sickness on March 27, according to the USDA. No other animals in the zoo are experiencing coronavirus symptoms, officials said.
“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,” the zoo said in a statement.
Can humans get coronavirus from animals?
The USDA’s press release said “there is no evidence that animals play a role in the transmission of COVID-19 to people,” except for the initial outbreak at a food market in Wuhan, China. In addition, 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.”
The USDA said “this is the first case of its kind” and “further studies are needed to understand if and how different animals could be affected by COVID-19.”
Health officials recommend frequent hand washing for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water or use alcohol-based sanitizer.
The Associated Press cites the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as recommending that out of an abundance of caution, people ill with the coronavirus should limit contact with animals.
Should any animal showing signs of respiratory illness be tested?
The USDA and CDC do not recommend routine testing of animals for coronavirus, according to a press release. Officials say the pandemic is “ever-evolving” and “public and animal health officials may decide to test certain animals out of an abundance of caution.”
