San Diego Zoo snow leopard suspected positive for COVID-19
San Diego Wildlife Alliance
and last updated 2021-07-23 21:52:23-04
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) â San Diego Wildlife Alliance officials announced Friday that a male snow leopard at the San Diego Zoo is suspected to be positive for COVID-19.
Officials said zoo specialists on Thursday noticed the snow leopard has a cough and nasal discharge and collected fecal samples to be tested for the coronavirus. The results at the zoo confirmed the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and results were sent to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System for follow-up testing, which also showed a positive result.
SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – A male snow leopard at the San Diego Zoo has preliminarily tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, it was announced Friday.
On Thursday, wildlife care specialists noticed the snow leopard had a cough and nasal discharge. Fecal samples collected from the snow leopard and tested at the zoo confirmed the presence of SARS-CoV-2.
The results were sent to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System for further testing, and those results also were positive. All positive tests for the virus are required to be sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories, where the results are still pending.
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The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has confirmed outbreaks of adenovirus hemorrhagic disease in deer in several northern California counties and is asking California residents to help curb the spread by not feeding wild animals, and report potential cases to the department.
“Providing attractants for deer – food, salt licks or even water – is against the law for good reason,” said Dr. Brandon Munk, senior wildlife veterinarian with California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Wildlife Investigations Laboratory. “Because these artificial attractants can congregate animals and promote the spread of disease, it’s particularly imperative to leave wildlife alone during an outbreak. There is no cure or vaccine for this disease, so our best management strategies right now are to track it carefully, and to take preventative measures to limit the spread.”
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has confirmed outbreaks of adenovirus hemorrhagic disease in deer in several northern California counties and is asking California residents to help curb the spread by not feeding wild animals, and report potential cases to the department.
“Providing attractants for deer – food, salt licks or even water – is against the law for good reason,” said Dr. Brandon Munk, senior wildlife veterinarian with California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Wildlife Investigations Laboratory. “Because these artificial attractants can congregate animals and promote the spread of disease, it’s particularly imperative to leave wildlife alone during an outbreak. There is no cure or vaccine for this disease, so our best management strategies right now are to track it carefully, and to take preventative measures to limit the spread.”