Lions test positive for COVID-19

COVID-19 has been found in two lions in the Zagreb ZOO, which is the first confirmation of this virus in a species in a Croatian ZOO, the Agriculture Ministry said on Wednesday.

The two lions were tested after manifesting the clinical signs of the disease after close contact with their handler who had earlier tested positive.

The tests were conducted as part of a program monitoring SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals and determining their role in the epidemiology of COVID-19 in Croatia.

The ministry said that for now, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health, there was no evidence that pets had a major role in transmitting COVID-19 to humans and the risk was considered very low.