US zoo gorillas have virus

Advanced Search

The story appears on

Page A11

September 13, 2021

GET this page in PDF

Free for subscribers

View shopping cart

US zoo gorillas have virus

Source: AFP | 00:05 UTC+8 September 13, 2021 |

Print Edition

Several gorillas at Zoo Atlanta in the southern US state of Georgia have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, the zoo said.

The western lowland gorillas were tested after keepers saw them coughing and other symptoms.

Initial tests indicated they were positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 and the zoo said it was awaiting the results of confirmatory tests from the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa.

Gorillas at risk of developing complications were being treated with monoclonal antibodies and the zoo’s whole population of 20 gorillas was being tested.

“The teams are very closely monitoring the affected gorillas and are hopeful they will make a complete recovery. They are receiving the best possible care,” said Sam Rivera, senior director of animal health at Zoo Atlanta.

“We are very concerned that these infections occurred, especially given that our safety protocols when working with great apes and other susceptible animal species are, and throughout the pandemic have been, extremely rigorous.”

The zoo said it believed the gorillas were infected by an asymptomatic keeper, despite the employee.

“While humans are known to be able to transmit the virus to animals such as gorillas, and these cases have occurred at other zoos, there is currently no data to suggest that zoo animals can transmit the virus to humans,” the zoo said.

World

About Us
|
Terms of Use
|
RSS
|
Privacy Policy
|
Contact Us
|
Shanghai Call Center: 962288
|
Tip-off hotline: 52920043

沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
|
互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
|
网络视听许可证：0909346
|
广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
|
增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012

US zoo gorillas have virus

Email this to your friend