It came as a shock when a tiger was diagnosed of Covid-19 at an American zoo last year making it the first animal to be infected with the corona virus. Since then, a couple of other animals have gotten infected.
Winston, a gorilla at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in California who’s believed to have been infected by an asymptomatic staff earlier this month has recovered from the virus. This was after receiving a monoclonal antibody therapy and other treatments.
This elderly silverback gorilla wasn’t the only one infected. Eight other members of the gorilla troop who showed symptoms of “mild coughing, congestion, nasal discharge and intermittent lethargy," were also confirmed positive to the virus upon a laboratory investigation
Due to his old age and other underlying conditions (pneumonia and heart disease), an antibody treatment was given to speed up his recovery. This supply isn’t permitted for humans use.
How the antibody works is that it mimics the body’s natural defense, hence, rapidly diminishing the effects of the virus. It drastically reduces the viral load and works right away unlike a vaccine which takes a few weeks for its effect to be felt.
With the help of the Zoo’s veterinary team, the other eight members of the troop is soon to make a full recovery, the zoo reported.
Now, the zoo is working with specialists across the world to secure a vaccine that is intended for animals only.
