After a tiger tests COVID-19 positive in New York; Centre issues advisory to State & UTs
Nadia, a 4-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo, that the zoo said on April 5, 2020 has tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is seen in an undated handout photo provided by the Bronx zoo in New York. (WCS/Handout via REUTERS)
Central Zoo Authority directs Zoos in India to ‘remain on “highest alertness’
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 6
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Wildlife Division today issued an urgent advisory to the Chief Wildlife Warden all States and Union Territories (UTs) regarding containing and management of COVID-19 in National Parks, Sanctuaries and Tiger Reserves.
The advisory, issued by Dr. R. Gopinath, Joint Director (Wildlife) MoEF&CC and shared by PIB India on its official Twitter handle, was designated as ‘Most Important,’ and came at the recent news report on a Tiger being infected with the COVID-19 in at Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo in New York.
Nadia, the 4-year-old Malayan tiger that tested positive, was screened for the COVID-19 disease after developing a dry cough along with three other tigers and three lions, Reuters reported quoting a statement from the Wildlife Conservation Society, which manages the zoo. All of the cats are expected to recover, it said.
Nadia became sick after exposure to an asymptomatic zoo employee, Paul Calle, chief veterinarian at the Bronx Zoo, told Reuters. The animals are believed to have been infected by a zookeeper and the zoo has been closed since mid-March.
Meanwhile, the advisory from the MoEF&CC quoting the news report on a Tiger being infected with the COVID 19, called for measure to contain transmission of the disease from humans to animals and vice-versa.
“It is felt that there are possibilities of spread of the virus amongst animals in National Parks/Sanctuaries/Tiger Reserves and also transmission of the virus from humans to animals and vice-versa,” it said.
In view of those facts, the advisory said it is imperative for the States/UT's to adopt the following measures:
- Take immediate preventive measures to stop the transmission and spread of the virus from humans to animals and vice versa, in National Parks/Sanctuaries/Tiger Reserves.
- Reduce the human wildlife interface
- Restrict the movement of people to National Parks/Sanctuaries/Tiger Reserves.
- Constitute a Task Force/Rapid Action Force with Field Managers, Veterinary doctors, Frontline staff, to manage the situation as quickly as possible.
- Create a 'round the clock' reporting mechanism with a Nodal Officer for swift management of any cases noticed.
- Set up essential services for emergency treatment of animals and their safe release back to their natural habitats, as and when required.
- Enhance disease surveillance, mapping and monitoring system through coordinated effort amongst various Departments.
- Maintain all other stipulations issued by the Health Ministry in the movement of staff/tourists/villagers, etc. in and around National Parks/Sanctuaries/Tiger Reserves.
- Take other possible steps to control the spread of the virus.
- Report the action taken to this Ministry.
Central Zoo Authority for ‘highest alertness’
Meanwhile, in continuation of the earlier advisory, the Central Zoo Authority also issued another to Chief Wildlife Warden of all States and UTs regarding the precautionary measures to be taken in the wake of the confirmation.
The advisory directed the Zoos in the country to remain on “highest alertness, watch animals on 24X7 basis, using CCTV for any abnormal behaviour/symptoms.”
Keepers/handlers not to be allowed in the vicinity without safety gear preferably PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), isolate and quarantine sick animals and have least contact while providing feed to animal, it said.
“All zoo personnel to strictly adhere to safety and disinfection protocol issued by the Government. time to time. on Novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19),” added the advisory issued by Dr SP Yadav, Member Secretary, the Central Zoo Authority.
Further it advised the zoos to coordinate with designated nodal agencies of the Government responsible for public health response and permit screening, testing and surveillance and diagnostic samples as and when required by the nodal agency.
Mammals like carnivores especially cat, ferret and primates to be carefully monitored and fortnightly samples of suspect cases to be sent to the designated animal health institutes to initiate COTS-19 testing while following all bio-containment and safety measures required to handle this high risk pathogen as per the national or ICMR guidelines, it added.
The listed testing agencies are: National Institute of High Security Animal Disease (NIHSAD), Bhopal. MP; National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE), Hoar, Haryana; and Centre for Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic (CADRAD), Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), lzatnagar, Bareilly, UP.
