Tiger tests positive but experts say there is no evidence that cats can infect humans
EXPERTS say there is no evidence cats can transmit coronavirus to people, after a tiger tested positive for the virus at a zoo in the US.
Nadia, a four-year-old female Malayan tiger at New York’s Bronx Zoo, was tested after developing a dry cough and showing a lack of appetite.
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) said that the cats were infected by a person caring for them who was a carrier of Covid-19 but did not yet display have symptoms.
Six other cats at the zoo, which has been closed to the public since March 16, including Nadia’s sister Azul, two Amur tigers and three African lions, were also showing possible coronavirus symptoms.
While it appears that animals in the cat family can catch the virus from human contact, there is no evidence that the disease can travel in the other direction, scientists stressed yesterday.
Dr Sarah Caddy, veterinarian and clinical research fellow at the University of Cambridge, said reports of a tiger with Covid-19 were not unexpected as new research suggests domestic cats can be infected with the virus if large doses are administered into their noses.
“However, it is surprising that the tiger has become infected with what must have been a fairly low dose of virus. We can assume the tiger did not have continual close contact with the asymptomatic zookeeper,” she said.
“What does this mean for our pet cats? Nothing new – at present there is still only one suspected case where an owner has spread the virus to their pet.
“The bottom line is that there is no evidence that any cat, large or small, can transmit the virus back to humans.”
A cat in Belgium whose owner suffered coronavirus following a visit to northern Italy went on to test positive after showing signs of illness, including respiratory issues and diarrhoea.
The cat recovered after nine days.