PHOENIX (3TV / CBS 5) – The Phoenix Zoo vaccinates some of its animals against COVID-19. The focus is on the species that are “most susceptible” to the disease. Like humans, animals receive two doses. The big cats – the African lion, the Sumatran tiger, the bobcat and the mountain lion – have already received their first dose. The same goes for the Bornean orangutans. Egyptian flying foxes, the three-banded armadillo, and the Linny’s two-toed sloth are next in line. The Egyptian bats at Phoenix Zoo are among the animals to be vaccinated against COVID-19. (Source: Phoenix Zoo) “In addition to the measures taken with regard to guests, we took precautions in the background during the pandemic to protect our animals and our staff,” said Dr. Gary West, who is responsible for animal health. According to West, two of the animals “experienced some mild reactions … but they normalized within two days”. He also said the goal is to prevent “serious clinical disease” in the animals most at risk of developing the disease. “We saw more and more cases in zoo animals, especially big cats and great apes,” West said. “These species have had more serious illnesses and even some deaths in some zoos. We got more and more concerned, and then the opportunity arose to get an experimental vaccine from Zoetis. ”West said no animals from the zoo were positive for COVID. tested, but he believes it’s happening all over the world because zookeepers accidentally passed the virus on to them. “Animal and human health are closely related,” West said. “We know that probably more than 75% of newly emerging infectious diseases are transmitted from animals to humans and sort of jump back and forth.” He said zookeepers wear masks and gloves to protect the animals. Places where visitors can get a little closer to the animals are currently closed. “Lots of animals received the vaccine,” West said. “There weren’t any negative side effects, so I was pretty confident it was safe.” The vaccine used by Zoo Phoenix was specially developed for animals and “approved for emergency use to protect endangered species”. Copyright 2021 Gray Media Group, Inc.
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