AND here's my @natgeo story, after chatting with the Bronx Zoo's chief vet:https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/04/tiger-coronavirus-covid19-positive-test-bronx-zoo/ …
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BREAKING: A tiger at the Bronx Zoo has tested positive for Covid-19. 6 other tigers and lions at the zoo are also showing symptoms. Believed to have been infected by an asymptomatic zoo worker. All doing well. To my knowledge, this is the first animal to test positive in the U.S.
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KEY POINTS: The tiger, Nadia, was one of seven big cats showing symptoms. Only Nadia was tested (she had to be sedated). All seven big cats are doing well. Likely contracted the virus from an asymptomatic zoo staffer. Only possibility, says Paul Calle, the zoo's chief vet.
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This is the FIRST confirmed case of a non-domesticated animal testing positive for the novel coronavirus in the world. A couple dogs and a cat tested positive in Hong Kong. A domestic cat in Belgium. To my knowledge, no domestic animals have tested positive in the U.S.
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(CLARIFYING A PREVIOUS TWEET): The novel coronavirus is a zoonotic disease but there is ZERO EVIDENCE that *domestic or zoo/captive animals* can transmit the virus to humans. It is also unknown if big cats are uniquely susceptible to the novel coronavirus.
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ALSO: The tiger did NOT take a test away from a human. Tests done in vet labs. "You cannot send human samples to the veterinary lab, and you cannot send animal tests to the human labs. There is no competition for testing" -Bronx Zoo chief vet, Paul Calle.
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I'm seeing a lot of fears that people will abandon their pets. There is NO EVIDENCE that pets (or tigers) can transmit the novel coronavirus to humans. Please don't panic. Animals under human care need human care. Shelters don't have the capacity to take in dumped animals.
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More on pets and domestic animals. The American Veterinary Medical Association says its guidance has not changed. if you have COVID-19, restrict contact with your pets as you would with humans. If you are NOT showing symptoms, interact with your pets as usual. Per new AVMA email:pic.twitter.com/Af9IsIaoEB
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Yes. The USDA and Wildlife Conservation Society (which manages the zoo) have confirmed.
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Seconded
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