I could have sworn I heard that animals could not catch this Corona Virus. Well after this past weekend, we have our first case in the U.S, a 4-year-old female Malayan tiger in the New York Bronx zoo.
Officials say it's thought to be the first known COVID-19 infection in an animal in the U.S., or of a tiger anywhere.COVID-19 is a disease caused by the coronavirus.
The zoo said Nadia, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers and three African lions had developed a dry cough and decrease in appetite. They are all expected to recover.
Late Sunday night,the zoo tweeted that its chief veterinarian, Dr. Paul Calle said, "The COVID-19 testing that was performed on our Malayan tiger Nadia was performed in a veterinary school laboratory and is not the same test as is used for people.'
Can humans get coronavirus from animals?
The USDA's press release said "there is no evidence that animals play a role in the transmission of COVID-19 to people," except for the initial outbreak at a food market inWuhan, China. In addition, there is "no evidence that any person has been infected with COVID-19 in the U.S. by animals, including by pet dogs or cats.