TWO HIPPOS IN BELGIAN ZOO TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

Sat 04 December 2021:

Two hippos at the Antwerp Zoo in northern Belgium have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the zoo.

“The national veterinary laboratory of Sciensano (national public health institute of Belgium) just confirmed the laboratory test results: two hippos Imani and Hermien contracted COVID-19,” Zoo Antwerpen said in a statement on Friday said.

The disease is mild in both hippos, with only runny noses as symptoms. The animals have been isolated, and zookeepers have tightened security measures to prevent the spread of disease.

The hippos are subjected to COVID-19 tests on a daily basis, and their health is being closely monitored.

Given the zoo’s strict sanitary measures, it’s unclear how the hippos became infected with the virus.

Last year, the zoo collaborated with the University of Antwerp to test all mammals for the disease, but no positive cases were discovered.

This isn’t the first time the virus has infected an animal at a zoo. Three snow leopards at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo in the US state of Nebraska died on November 14 from COVID-19-related complications.

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