Five of the western lowland gorillas at the Dallas Zoo have tested positive for COVID-19.
Officials with the Dallas Zoo say they regularly test the great apes and big cats for COVID-19 because those animals can contract the virus.
The five gorillas who tested positive are named Shana, B’Wenzi, Marcus, Asha, and Shanta. None of them are exhibiting any symptoms. Zoo officials say if treatment does become necessary, they will be prepared to provide it.
The test results are preliminary and will be referred to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory for confirmation.
Zoo staffers take precautions to avoid exposure to the virus, including the use of personal protective equipment and N95 masks.
Officials say there's no data showing that zoo animals can transmit the virus to humans. They're confident that no zoo visitors are at risk because they're kept at a safe distance from the animals.
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