Nadia, a 4-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo, New York, USA has tested positive for coronavirus COVID-19. Nadia, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers, and three African lions had developed a dry cough and all are expected to recover.
This positive COVID-19 test for the tiger was confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory, based in Ames, Iowa.
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. Apart from these lions, none of the zoo’s snow leopards, cheetahs, clouded leopard, Amur leopard, puma or serval are showing any signs of illness. The tiger might be infected by a caretaker who was asymptomatic at the time.
COVID-19 is a disease caused by the coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2. The virus was first transferred to people from a seafood market in Wuhan, China. There is no evidence that any person has been infected with COVID-19 in the US by animals, including by pet dogs or cats said the US Department of Agriculture.
The zoos and aquarium have been temporarily closed since March 16.
Source: Bronx Zoo
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