India: Eight Asiatic Lions test positive for coronavirus at Hyderabad Zoo

Animals, Asia, Coronavirus, Health, India, Infection, PCR, Reservoir, Science, Testing, Transmission, Treatment

In what can be confirmed as first incident of animals contracting Coronavirus in India, eight Asiatic Lions at the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad have tested positive for the novel Coronavirus.

RT-PCR tests of the infected animals were conducted by the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad, examined the nasal and throat samples(oropharyngeal swab) of the big cats. Zoo officials raised an alarm last week when they saw the pack of Lions wheezing with dry cough, nasal discharge and loss of appetite

Speaking to News18, CCMB director Dr Rakesh Mishra says the Lions have been infected with mild symptoms caused by A2a prototype and are in stable condition

News18.com report

 

 

Image by jcmenon from Pixabay

** This post was originally published on May 4, 2021 **