Coronavirus: Tiger in New York Zoo tests positive for Covid-19

A four year old Malayan tiger called Nadia has become the first animal in the US to have tested positive for coronavirus in the United States

Six other tigers and lions at the Bronx Zoo in New York City have also fallen ill, and are believed to have been infected by a zoo employee who was not yet showing symptoms.

The result raises questions about transmission of the virus in animals - particularly livestock.

But the US Department of Agriculture, which confirmed Nadia's test result at its veterinary lab, says there are no known cases of the virus in US pets or farm animals.

Several tigers and lions at New York's Bronx Zoo have fallen ill with coronavirus symptoms.

Dr Jane Rooney a USDA official, said, "There doesn't appear to be, at this time, any evidence that suggests that the animals can spread the virus to people or that they can be a source of the infection in the United States."

The USDA said it is not recommending routine coronavirus testing of animals, in zoos or elsewhere, or of zoo employees.

The coronavirus outbreaks around the world are driven by person-to-person transmission, experts say.

The news comes as deaths from coronavirus in New York state climbed to nearly 4,200 despite US President Donald Trump claiming his country was "starting to see light at the end of the tunnel".

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