The CZA in 4th informed that the Department of Agriculture and National Veterinary Services Laboratories, USA in a statement Dt:5.4.2020 has confirmed SARS COV-2 (COVID-19) in a Tiger housed in Bronx Zoo, New York. Owing to the communicable and zoonotic nature of the said disease, COVID-19, following actions need to be taken to avert the disease in the Zoo Parks/Deer Parks in the State.
Zoos/Deer Parks in the State are, therefore advised to remain on highest alertness, watch animals on 24×7 basis using CCTV for any abnormal behavior/symptoms, keepers/handles not to be allowed in the vicinity without safety gear preferably PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) isolate & quarantine sick animals and have least contact while providing feed to animals.
Mammals like Carnivores, especially cat, feral and primates to be carefully monitored and forthrightly samples of suspect cases to be sent to the designated animal health institutes shown under to initiate COVID 19 testing while following at bio containment and safety measures required to handle, this high risk pathogen as per the national / ICMR guidelines
National Institute of High Security Animal Disease (NHSAD) Bhopal, MP National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE) Hisar, Haryana Centre for Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic (CADRAD) Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Itanagar, Barelly, UP.
All Zoo/Deer Park personnel to strictly adhere to safety and disinfection protocol issued by the Government time to time on Novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19).
No sick animal keeper should be allowed near the Zoo/Deer park animals. All animal keepers shall self-sanitize before feeding the animals or cleaning the enclosures / night houses. The animals enclosures/night houses shall be thoroughly sanitized.
Further Zoos/Deer Park are advised to coordinate with designated nodal agencies of the Government responsible for public health response and permit screening, testing and surveillance and diagnostic samples of the Zoo staff as and when required by the nodal agency.
