Washington (AFP)
Six lions and three tigers at the Washington Zoo have tested positive for the coronavirus and are being treated for their symptoms, facility officials said Friday.
"Last weekend, guards observed decreased appetite, coughing, sneezing and lethargy" in six African lions, one Sumatran tiger and two Siberian tigers who tested positive for Covid -19 in preliminary tests, the zoo said in a statement.
Confirmatory test results are expected in the coming days, the facility said.
Contaminated beasts are treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-nausea drugs and antibiotics against the risk of pneumonia.
Zoo officials stressed that the public was not at risk, given the considerable distance between the feline habitat and visitors.
No other animal showed signs of infection, they added.
The contaminations of these beasts come as several American zoos, including the Washington Zoo, announced on Tuesday the launch of a vaccination campaign for animal species likely to be infected with Covid-19 in these establishments.
Beyond felines, primates have in fact already been affected by the virus across the country, several gorillas at the Atlanta city zoo in Georgia having notably tested positive for Covid last week.
To guard against this evil, the animals of the zoo in the American capital will therefore be vaccinated in the coming months with a serum developed by the specialized firm Zoetis.
© 2021 AFP