It seems as though the coronavirus only affects human beings, now it is clear it can affect animals too.
New York City’s Bronx Zoo has confirmed a female Malayan tiger has tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Wildlife Conservation Society, the organization which manages the Bronx Zoo, released a statement.
“Nadia, a 4-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo, has tested positive for COVID-19. She, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers, and three African lions had developed a dry cough and all are expected to recover,” the statement reads.
The statement goes on to explain any information the organization gains about the coronavirus will be shared in efforts to help mitigate the effects.
The other cats are reported to be doing well. The organization claims it does not know how the coronavirus may develop in bigger cats since they can all react differently.
The organization explained how the tiger was infected.
“Our cats were infected by a person caring for them who was asymptomatically infected with the virus or before that person developed symptoms,” the statement reads.
There are preventative measures the zoo has put in place for the staff that is caring for the affected cats.
The organization encourages Americans who have pets not to worry.
“There is no evidence that animals play a role in the transmission of COVID-19 to people other than the initial event in the Wuhan market, and no evidence that any person has been infected with COVID-19 in the US by animals, including by pet dogs or cats,” the statement reads.
The Bronx Zoo has been temporarily closed since March 16.
The coronavirus continues to spread rapidly across the United States making it the country with the most coronavirus cases. As of Sunday evening, there have been 331,151 confirmed cases reported, with 9,458 deaths.
