ST. PAUL — A Minnesota tiger has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, according to a news release from the Minnesota Board of Animal Health.
The tiger lives at The Wildcat Sanctuary in Pine County, Minn. The sanctuary veterinarian reports the 21-year-old female Sumatran/Bengal tiger received supportive care and has recovered, according to the release.
Staff first noticed lions, tigers and cougars displaying symptoms in early January. Shortly after, the veterinarian consulted state animal health officials about testing for SARS-CoV-2 at a private laboratory before results were confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories.
“This marks only the second confirmed captive or domestic animal case of SARS-CoV-2 in the state,” State Veterinarian Beth Thompson said in the release. “It’s a good reminder that the virus can be transmitted from people to animals. We appreciate the veterinarians in the state who contact our office to discuss testing and surveillance of exposed and symptomatic animals so we can investigate with our state and federal partners.”
People with COVID-19 can spread the virus to some animals during close contact, according the Board of Animal Health release.
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Staff at The Wildcat Sanctuary have maintained COVID-19 protocols, wearing face masks, sanitizing hands and maintaining physical distance, since the onset of the pandemic early last year, according to the release. The sanctuary is not open to the public.
The board announced one other COVID-19 positive animal in Minnesota since the start of the pandemic: a Carver County house cat in June 2020. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has resources available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/animals/pets-other-animals.html .
