Zoos in India put on 'highest' alert after tiger tests positive for COVID-19 in US

Central Zoo Authority (CZA) on Monday put all zoos across country on “highest” alert and asked m to collect samples fortnightly in suspected cases after a tiger at a US zoo tested positive for coronavirus.

In a letter to all states and Union territories, CZA Member Secretary S P Yav said United States Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratories has confirmed COVID-19 in a tiger at Bronx Zoo in New York. "Zoos in country are, refore, vised to remain on highest alertness, and monitor animals 24X7 using CCTVs for any abrmal behaviour or symptoms," it said.

authority said carnivores, especially cats, ferrets and primates, need to be carefully monitored and fortnightly samples of suspected cases be sent to designated animal health institutes for COVID-19 testing. samples can be sent to National Institute of High Security Animal Disease in Bhopal, National Research Centre on Equines in Haryana's Hisar and Indian Veterinary Research Institute in Bareilly, Uttar Presh, letter said.

"Sick animals should be isolated and quarantined," it ded. keeper or handler should be allowed in vicinity of animals without safety gear, preferably personal protective equipment (PPE). y should have least contact with animals while providing m feed, it said. Zoos have been asked to follow all bio-containment and safety measures required to handle high-risk pathogen as per national/ICMR guidelines, letter said.

"Zoos are vised to coordinate with designated dal ncies of government for public health response and permit screening, testing and surveillance as and when required by dal ncy," CZA ded.

A four-year-old Malayan tiger at Bronx Zoo in New York has tested positive for coronavirus infection. female tiger, named Nia, is believed to be first kwn case of an animal infected with COVID-19 in US. It is suspected that she contracted virus from a caretaker who was asymptomatic at that time. incident has raised concerns over wher infection can be transmitted between animals and humans. According to media reports, a Pomeranian dog in Hong Kong also tested positive for COVID-19 last month.

So far, SARS-CoV-2 virus has been spreing from humans to humans and re is research yet to support human-to-animal transmission, experts say. Still, y say, people infected with COVID-19 should limit contact with ir pets. Union Environment Ministry also issued an visory to states and Union territories, expressing concern about transmission of virus between humans and animals.

It asked states and UTs to take immediate preventive measures, reduce human-wildlife interface and restrict movement of people to national parks, sanctuaries and tiger reserves. Zoos across country have been shut following a CZA directive on March 13, with ir ministration taking precautionary measures while taking care of animals.

In India, re are 145 recognised zoos with over 56,000 animals, according to CZA. Delhi Zoo or National Zoological Park has asked its staff with symptoms such as cough, cold, fever to stay home. "We have been screening our employees at gates. If y show any symptoms, y are asked to quarantine mselves at home," Delhi Zoo Director Suneesh Buxy said.

zoo staff has been taking all precautionary measures. y wear gloves, masks and wash hands with soap frequently, Range Officer Saurabh Vashishtha said, ding that disinfectant is being sprayed in common areas.re are around 1,100 animals, 30 attendants and around 15 animal keepers in 188-acre zoo, he said. authorities at Itanagar Biological Park are also taking extra care of ir nine big cats.

"Food for carnivores is treated properly before animals eat it. Even vehicles are sanitised thoroughly," Biological Park, Itanagar, curator Raya Flago said. zoo ministration has t allowed any employee to go out of park since lockdown came into force. "We have also me it mandatory for staff of park to wear masks and or protective equipment while feeding animals," Flago ded. 

RE: Coronavirus LIVE Updates: India's Confirmed Cases Cross 4000-mark; 109 Deaths Confirmed