SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19,
United States of America
Information received on 06/04/2020 from Dr Mark Davidson, Associate Administrator, USDA-APHIS, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, United States of America
Summary
Report type Immediate notification
Date of start of the event 27/03/2020
Date of confirmation of the event 04/04/2020
Report date 06/04/2020
Date submitted to OIE 06/04/2020
Reason for notification Emerging disease
Morbidity 2 (scale 0 to 5)
Mortality 0 (scale 0 to 5)
Zoonotic impact Zoonotic potential currently unknown
Causal agent SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19
Related reports Immediate notification (06/04/2020)
Follow-up report No. 1 (17/04/2020)
Follow-up report No. 2 (22/04/2020)
Follow-up report No. 3 (29/04/2020)
Follow-up report No. 4 (02/06/2020)
Follow-up report No. 5 (03/06/2020)
New outbreaks (1)
Outbreak 1 Bronx County, Bronx, New York
Date of start of the outbreak 27/03/2020
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Zoo
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
Lion:Panthera leo(Felidae) 3 3 0 0 0
Tiger:Panthera tigris(Felidae) 5 4 0 0 0
Affected population Adult lions and tigers in a zoo.
Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 1
Total animals affected
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
Lion:Panthera leo(Felidae) 3 3 0 0 0
Tiger:Panthera tigris(Felidae) 5 4 0 0 0
Outbreak statistics
Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost*
Lion:Panthera leo(Felidae) 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Tiger:Panthera tigris(Felidae) 80.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
*Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter
Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
  • Suspected human transmission
Epidemiological comments Five tigers and three lions were housed in two enclosures at a zoo. The first tiger showed clinical signs of disease on March 27. By April 3, three additional tigers and all lions were showing clinical signs. Clinical signs consisted of a dry cough and some wheezing; one animal had inappetence. None of the animals were in respiratory distress. The lions and tigers were isolated and no other animals at the zoo have shown any signs of respiratory disease. Samples were collected from the first affected tiger and it was confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19. The other animals with clinical signs are also presumed to be infected. All animals are stable and are recovering. It is assumed that an asymptomatic zoo employee infected the animals.
Control measures
Measures applied
  • Quarantine
  • Disinfection
  • Vaccination permitted (if a vaccine exists)
  • No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied
  • No other measures
Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type Species Test Test date Result
Cornell University Animal Health Diagnostic Center (Local laboratory) Tiger gene sequencing 05/04/2020 Positive
Cornell University Animal Health Diagnostic Center (Local laboratory) Tiger real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 03/04/2020 Positive
University of Illinois Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (Local laboratory) Tiger gene sequencing 05/04/2020 Positive
University of Illinois Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (Local laboratory) Tiger real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 03/04/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) Tiger gene sequencing 04/04/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) Tiger real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 04/04/2020 Positive
Future Reporting
The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.
Map of outbreak locations