By NewsDesk  @bactiman63

We’re a little late on this story out of Texas, in which a cougar at a facility that exhibits wild animals tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Image by PIRO4D from Pixabay

On February 10, The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) announced the confirmation.

This is the first cougar in the United States to be confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2. A tiger from the same facility was also confirmed positive for the virus.

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.

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.

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