Tiger tests positive for coronavirus

A Malayan tiger has tested positive for deadly coronavirus in the US.

The US Department of Agriculture revealed that a tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York City tested positive for the pandemic.

Reports also said six other big cats are having symptoms persistent with the disease.

Onyxnews Nigeria gathered that the tiger with name Nadia, likely contracted the coronavirus from an infected zookeeper.

The head of veterinarian at Bronx Zoo, Paul Calle, said, “It’s the first time, to our knowledge, that a (wild) animal has gotten sick from COVID-19 from a person. It’s the only thing that makes sense. The zoo has been closed to visitors since March 16.”

Calle pointed out that the zoo has the seven cats under veterinary care and they are expected to recover. Though the Wildlife Conservation Society, the nonprofit that runs the Bronx Zoo, cautioned in a news release that it is not clear how the disease might progress in animals.

The reliable online news reports that the veteran revealed that the four-year-old Malayan tiger was tested for the deadly virus on April 2, after developing a dry cough in late March.

Meanwhile, two Siberian tigers, and three African lions have also had coughs and a loss of appetite, but are yet to be tested for the pandemic.

Calle also said following the ongoing raging disease, they tested the tiger for the virus.

“Considering what’s going on in New York City, we, of course, did the COVID testing, Calle said.

The team took samples at the zoo, after sedating Nadia. They sent the samples for testing to the New York State Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell University and the samples University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

“It is not the same type of test that health care providers give to people, so there is no competition for testing between these very different situations.
“I suspect that there are other cases, and now that we’re sharing this information I have a hunch other likely cases will turn up,” Calle added.

Onyxnews Nigeria understands that, previously, many domestic animals had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, including a Pomeranian and a German shepherd in Hong Kong, a domestic cat in Belgium.