125 animals at Thailand zoo checked after intern infected with COVID-19

By The Nation

BANGKOK — Chiang Mai Zoo has closed its doors for two weeks after an intern working with its animals tested positive for Covid-19. The zoo will be closed for 14 days from April 11-24 and at-risk staff will be tested and quarantined, said its director, Wuttichai Muangman.

The zoo will also be cleaned with disinfectant before reopening to the public, he added.

The intern tested positive after working at the zoo on April 5-7.

On Tuesday, a veterinary team checked 125 animals at risk of exposure to the virus. Among the at-risk animals were monkeys, tigers and palm civets. All were found to be healthy, with no respiratory or other symptoms.

Cases of the new coronavirus spreading from humans to other mammals have been recorded around the world, including in the US where a tiger a New York Zoo became the first animal in the country to test positive for Covid-19. However, the risk of animals spreading Covid-19 to people is considered to be low, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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