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Coughs and lethargy: Lions, tigers at Washington zoo catch COVID-19

Coughs and lethargy: Lions, tigers at Washington zoo catch COVID-19

Five lions manage to escape zoo enclosure in Sydney

Sixlionsand threetigersat the NationalZooinWashingtonhave tested positive forCOVID-19 and are undergoing treatment after falling unwell, thezoosaid Friday.

"Last weekend, animal keepers observed decreased appetites, coughing, sneezing and lethargy" insix Africanlions, a Sumatrantigerand twotigersfrom Siberia, who all tested positive forCovidin preliminary tests, thezoosaid in a statement.

Results of tests to confirm the diagnosis are expected in a few days.

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The sick cats are being treated with anti-inflammatories and anti-nausea medication, as well as antibiotics to ward off pneumonia.

People who visit thezooare not at risk because of the distance between them and the felines, and no other animals have shown signs of infection, thezoosaid.

The bout of sickness comes as several US zoos including the one inWashingtonannounced Tuesday the launch of a vaccination campaign for animals susceptible toCovid-19.

Primates in several zoos have become infected. Several gorillas at thezooin Atlanta tested positive last week.

To protect them fromCOVID-19, animals at theWashingtonzoowill be injected with a product developed by Zoetis, a drug company that makes vaccines and medicine for pets and livestock.