The United States Now Has Its First Animal COVID-10 Case

The COVID-19 pandemic has now reached the Bronx Zoo in New York.  According to WIAT, CBS 42, “The first animal in the United States has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, a tiger at the Bronx Zoo.”  According to the Bronx Zoo, it “is temporarily closed effective March 16, 2020” in an effort to slow down the spread of COVID-19.  Apparently, the animal that tested positive for COVID-19 is a female Malayan tiger named Nadia, who is 4-years-old.  According, WIAT, CBS 42, 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.”  How did the Malayan tiger contract the coronavirus?  Well, “the zoo said the cats were infected by a person caring for them who was asymptomatically infected with the virus or before that person developed symptoms. Appropriate preventive measures are now in place for all staff who are caring for them, and the other cats in our four WCS zoos, to prevent further exposure of any other of our zoo cats,” according to WABC, ABC 7 reported. 

(Source) For the full story from WIAT, CBS 42, click here.  For the full story from WABC, ABC 7, click here.  To find out more about the Bronx Zoo, click here. 

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