As a end result, 9 Asiatic lions on the Night Safari and 5 African lions on the Singapore Zoo have been remoted, together with the 5 which have COVID-19, mentioned the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) on Wednesday (Nov 10).
There have been “sporadic and isolated” experiences of animals testing positive for the virus in different nations, after they have been in shut contact with individuals who have been contaminated.
HOW DO ANIMALS GET INFECTED?
Animals would need to be in shut contact with an contaminated human or animal for the virus to be transmitted, mentioned Professor Dale Fisher, senior advisor on the National University Hospital’s (NUH) Division of Infectious Diseases.
Prof Fisher mentioned the virus might additionally enter a mucosal floor when animals lick a contaminated floor.
Airborne unfold in poorly ventilated, overcrowded animal locations can be “quite possible”, he mentioned, pointing to the unfold of COVID-19 in mink farms abroad.
The lions on the Night Safari had come in contact with keepers who have been contaminated with the coronavirus.
HOW ARE ANIMALS TESTED FOR COVID-19?
In response to CNA queries, a spokesperson for the Mandai Wildlife Group mentioned nasal and oropharyngeal swabs, blood samples and faecal samples of the affected lions have been collected and handed over to AVS for testing.
“But now, only faecal samples are required for testing and animals would not have to be anesthetised,” the spokesperson added.
The nasal and oropharyngeal swabs, in addition to the blood samples, are collected by the veterinary workforce at Mandai Wildlife Group, whereas faecal samples are collected by the animal care workforce.
The sampling strategies are “routine” and there’s no particular coaching required, the spokesperson mentioned.
The samples taken from the animals are examined utilizing a polymerase chain response (PCR) test, which has similarities to the method for people.
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