Gorillas at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.Photo: Courtesy San Diego Zoo
Gorillas at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park have tested positive for thenovel coronavirus(COVID-19), the zoo announced Monday.
The preliminary tests detected COVID-19 on Friday, and the The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed the positive results Monday.
The park’s executive director, Lisa Peterson, said in a statement that the gorillas are doing well aside from some coughing and congestion.
Gorilla at San Diego Zoo Safari Park.Courtesy San Diego Zoo
“The troop remains quarantined together and are eating and drinking. We are hopeful for a full recovery,” Peterson said.
The gorillas likely contracted the virus from a staff member who was asymptomatic and later tested positive for the virus. The staffer had been wearing PPE around the animals, the zoo said.
“For almost one year our team members have been working tirelessly, with the utmost determination to protect each other and the wildlife in our care from this highly contagious virus,” Peterson said. “The safety of our staff and the wildlife in our care remains our number one priority.”
While the gorillas are certainly not the firstanimals to have contracted COVID-19, these are the first reported cases of the virus in great apes,according to ABC News.
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source: people.com
