Officials said Friday they are waiting to confirm the diagnosis after sending test samples to the Ames National Veterinary Services Laboratory, Iowa.
The animals were tested after some employees coughed, had runny noses, and showed changes in appetite. Analyzes performed by the Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Georgia gave presumably positive results for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19.
The statement said the affected gorillas are being treated with monoclonal antibodies and that samples have been taken from the entire gorilla population at the zoo for testing. The zoo plans to continue testing the animals regularly.
“Teams are closely monitoring the affected gorillas and expect them to fully recover,” said Sam Rivera, senior director of Animal Health. “They are getting the best care possible and we are willing to provide additional supportive care if needed.”
Zoo officials said they do not know exactly how the gorillas became infected. According to the statement, they said the virus could have been transmitted to animals by a fully vaccinated asymptomatic employee and Covid wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), which is a common practice when working with large apes.
“Although it is known that humans can transmit the virus to animals such as gorillas, and these cases have occurred in other zoos, there are currently no data to suggest that zoo animals can transmit the virus to humans.” , according to the statement. “Regardless, visitors to the Atlanta Zoo do not pose a transmission threat to gorillas or vice versa given the distance between areas used by guests and animal habitats.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Georgia state veterinarian have approved the Atlanta Zoo to use a vaccine developed specifically for animals, and gorillas will receive the vaccine once they recover. For now, the zoo plans to vaccinate its populations “Bornean and Sumatra orangutans, Sumatran tigers, African lions and clouded leopard,” according to the statement.