Zoo Animals Tested Positive for Coronavirus
If you think that animals are not affected by the COVID-19 virus, think again. In January, a troop of gorillas from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park had been tested positive for Coronavirus.
Scientists and veterinarians across the globe are battling Coronavirus from spreading to more animals, whether captivated, in the wild, or domesticated. They think of using the same measures for reducing the spread of the virus in humans, such as health checks, social distancing, and series of vaccines for zoo animals.
A 28-year-old San Diego Zoo orangutan named Karen has become the first ape in the world to receive a Coronavirus vaccine on January 26. She was administered two shots from a New Jersey veterinary pharmaceutical company, Zoetis. She didn't experience any adverse effects, which prompted the vaccination of nine more primates - four orangutans and five bonobos. Added were three more gorillas and a bonobo that got their initial vaccine this month and will have their second shot next month.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Health Officer Nadine Lamberski said that she's truly convinced that they wanted to do the vaccination to protect other great apes. She added that she felt the necessity after eight gorillas became ill.
The virus outbreak was associated with an infected zookeeper but felt no symptoms. In short, that person is asymptomatic and is unaware that he or she is already a carrier of the virus. Seven gorillas completely recovered while one elderly silverback contracted pneumonia which could have caused by the virus and heart disease. The sick ape gets antibiotics and heart medication as well as antibody treatment to restrain the virus from attacking the cells.
With the upswing of pandemic cases last year, researchers started focusing on other animals that are inherently closely related to people. It includes those that live near in contact with people or are noted sources of other viral upsurges.
Some experiments discovered many animals that can accommodate the virus and transmit it to other animals or even people. Among these include ferrets, raccoons, dogs, cats, and many non-human primates.
