COVID CATS
Four lions struck down by Covid in outbreak at Barcelona Zoo with staff also infected
FOUR lions at Barcelona Zoo have tested positive for Covid — in only the second known case of big cats catching the virus.
Kiumbe, a young male, and three lionesses named Zala, Nima and Run Run were tested after keepers noticed they had mild flu symptoms.
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Keepers carried out PCR swabs on the lions in the same way as humans are tested as the animals are accustomed to contact with staff, the zoo said.
Authorities are investigating how the lions became infected.
Two staff at the zoo also tested positive for coronavirus after the outbreak was first detected last month.
The only previously known infections in big cats were at the Bronx Zoo in New York, where four tigers and three lions tested positive in April.
Barcelona Zoo said: "The Zoo has contacted and collaborated with international experts such as the Veterinary Service of the Bronx Zoo, the only one that has documented cases of Sars-CoV-2 infection in felines.
"The lions were given veterinary care for their mild clinical condition —similar to a very mild flu condition — through anti-inflammatory treatment and close monitoring, and the animals responded well."
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The four-year-old male and the females, who are all 16 years old, have had no contact with other animals.
Vets added: “At no time was difficult breathing or other respiratory signs observed in the lions and all the symptoms disappeared after 15 days, except for coughing or sneezing.”
The zoo remains open and bosses stressed there is no risk to visitors as they cannot get close enough to catch it from the lions.
The Bronx Zoo tested all its big cats including cheetahs and snow leopards after an outbreak in April.
A four-year-old Malayan tiger named Nadia began coughing and later tested positive.
Three more tigers and three lions also caught the virus.
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It was believed they were all infected by one keeper, who had no symptoms.
Domestic cats have been known to catch coronavirus in the US and Asia.
And there are claims pet dogs have fallen ill, including Boris Johnson's pooch Dilyn.
There have also been outbreaks of a mutant strain on mink farms, leading to a cull of 15million animals across Europe.
New Covid mink strain would have 'grave consequences' if spread, Matt Hancock warns
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