Covid-infected lions and pumas in South Africa raise concern
- Posted on
- Comment
Lions and pumas at a South African zoo may have contracted Covid from their handlers, according to a study by scientists at the University of Pretoria.
The scientists warn of the risk of new variants emerging if the virus “establishes itself in other animal reservoirs” and is transmitted back to human beings.
The study was done after the animals fell ill with symptoms that were similar to coronavirus in human beings – including breathing difficulties, runny noses and a dry cough.
Covid tests on the animals turned out positive, the research noted, with data suggesting that they contracted the virus from staff handling them.
The authors noted that the zookeepers had coronavirus circulating among them at the time but showed no symptoms.
They have recommended measures such as wearing masks and infection control when dealing with captive animals.
The research has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Viruses.
Source: BBC
ABOUT: Nana Kwesi Coomson
[email protected] An Entrepreneur, Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Communications Executive and Philanthropist. Editor-in-Chief of www.233times.com. A Senior Journalist with Ghanaian Chronicle Newspaper. An alumnus of Adisadel College where he read General Arts. His first degree is in Bachelor of Arts - Political Science (major) and History (minor) from the University of Ghana. He holds MSc in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Energy with Public Relations (PR) from the Robert Gordon University in the United Kingdom. He is a 2018 Mandela Washington Fellow who studied at Clark Atlanta University in USA on the Business and Entrepreneurship track.
View all posts by: Nana Kwesi Coomson
(Selorm) | 
(Nana Kwesi)