Cougar, tiger test positive for COVID-19 in Texas
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) announced confirmation of a COVID-positive cougar at a facility that exhibits wild animals in Texas.
This is the first cougar in the United States to be confirmed positive for the virus.
A tiger from the same facility was also confirmed positive.
Samples from several animals at the facility were taken after showing clinical signs including coughing and wheezing.
The animals are expected to fully recover.
It is suspected that the large cats acquired the infection from a person working as a team member or volunteer who was positive for COVID-19.
SARS-CoV-2 infections have been reported in a small number of animals worldwide, mostly in animals that had close contact with a person with COVID-19.
At this time, routine testing of animals is not recommended.
State and local animal health and public health officials will work with USDA and the CDC to make determinations about whether animals should be tested for SARS-CoV-2, using a One Health approach.
USDA will announce cases of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in animals each time the virus is found in a new species.
Confirmed cases in animals are updated weekly and are posted here.
The USDA is still learning about SARS-CoV-2 in animals, but there is currently no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading the virus to people.
Based on the information available, the risk of animals spreading the virus to people is considered to be low.
However, people with COVID-19 can spread the virus to some animals during close contact.
It is important for people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to avoid contact with pets and other animals to protect them from possible infection.
Thursday, the Humane Society of the United States sent 21 News a statement.
"Nineteen tigers, lions, snow leopards, and cougars in six states so far have tested positive for COVID-19. The USDA's advisory for zoos to discontinue public contact with big cats does not go far enough. Texas legislators must ban this practice. It's clear that people are infecting captive wild animals, and there is genuine concern that big cats and other wild animals used for public handling could also spread COVID to people."
-Lauren Loney, the Texas state director for The Humane Society of the United States
