Minnesota Tiger Has Tested Positive For COVID-19
A tiger at The Wildcat Sanctuary in Minnesota has tested positive for the coronavirus. The 21-year-old female Bengal tiger started showing symptoms several weeks ago. She is now almost fully recovered. Veterinarians believe she may have caught the virus from an asymptomatic person.
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“If the rehoming efforts of the recent big cats didn t test us enough, what came after surely did.
Shortly after their arrival, Marcus and Winona started showing upper respiratory symptoms, including intermittent wheezing. They were given antibiotics and observed closely.
Similar to domestic cats, big cats can break out with upper respiratory infections from stress. Our concerns elevated when more cats began showing similar symptoms, including 21-year old tigress Sabrina. We checked all bedding and buildings for mold to ensure there wasn t a respiratory irritant.
A Carver County house cat tested positive in June, according to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. It s a good reminder that the virus can be transmitted from people to animals, said Dr. Beth Thompson, state veterinarian. People who test positive with COVID-19 or suspect they have it should avoid contact with pets and other animals to protect them from possible infection, state officials said. We have not seen any evidence of COVID passing from pet or wild captive cats to humans, said state Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Joni Scheftel.
Staff at the Wildcat Sanctuary in Pine County noticed in early January that there were lions, tigers and cougars that were displaying COVID-19 symptoms. After consulting with state animal health officials about testing for the virus, the U.S. Department of Agriculture s National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed Sabrina, a 21-year-old female Sumatran/Bengal tiger, had COVID-19.
Tiger at Wildcat Sanctuary Tests Positive for COVID-19 Virus
Sabrina, a 21-year-old Sumatran/Bengal tiger living at the Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone has tested positive for COVID-19.
The big cat was being treated for a respiratory infection when the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories tested the animal for SARS-CoV-2 at a private lab with the results confirmed by the USDA.
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health says that Sabrina is only the second confirmed captive or domestic animal case of SARS-CoV-2 in the state of Minnesota. State Veterinarian, Dr. Beth Thompson says, It’s a good reminder that the virus can be transmitted from people to animals. We appreciate the veterinarians in the state who contact our office to discuss testing and surveillance of exposed and symptomatic animals, so we can investigate with our state and federal partners.
Tiger at Minnesota wild cat sanctuary tests positive for COVID-19 virus
By Allie Johnson
SANDSTONE, Minn. (FOX 9) - A tiger at The Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone, Minnesota tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, state officials said Tuesday.
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health said staff at the sanctuary first noticed lions, tigers and cougars displaying symptoms of the coronavirus in early January. Shortly after, the US Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed a 21-year-old female Sumatran/Bengal tiger was infected with SARS-CoV-2.
The sanctuary veterinarian reports the tiger received supportive care and has recovered from the illness.