2 Tigers Exposed To COVID In Ragunan, Primate Expert Of IPB: No Data On Animals Can Be Transmitted To Humans

JAKARTA - The Head of the Primate Animal Study Center (PSSP) of the Bogor Agricultural University, Huda Shalahudin Darusman, stated that there is no data and history of animals that are positive for COVID-19 that can transmit the virus to humans.

"Animals can be infected with COVID-19, but whether they are infected or just contamination, it has not been confirmed until now. Moreover, if sick animals can transmit to humans, there is no data yet, so it can be said that they do not exist," said Huda Salahuddin Darusman in an interview privately. The virtual event was followed from Bogor, Antara, Monday, August 2nd.

Huda Shalahudon said this was in response to two Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) at the Ragunan Wildlife Park, Jakarta, which were confirmed positive for COVID-19.

The public, especially officers at the Ragunan Wildlife Park, do not need to panic about finding animals exposed to COVID-19.

"The finding of animals exposed to COVID-19 in Ragunan is not the first time this has happened in the world, but no humans have been infected from animals," he said.

This Pharmacology and Toxicology Lecturer at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, IPB explained, he learned that two Sumatran tigers in the Ragunan Wildlife Park were exposed to COVID-19, after the Ragunan manager sent a sample of the PCR swab test results to the PSSB IPB Laboratory, on July 15, 2021. "After the test was carried out laboratory, the result is positive for COVID-19," he said.

Previously, the Head of the DKI Jakarta City Parks and Forest Service, Suzi Marsitawati, in a written statement stated that two Sumatran tigers in the Ragunan Wildlife Park, Jakarta, were reported to be infected with COVID-19. The two names are Tino (9 years old) and Hari (12 years old).

According to Suzi, Tino was initially found sick by showing clinical symptoms of shortness of breath, sneezing, mucus from the nose, and decreased appetite, on July 9, 2021. Two days later, Hari also experienced pain with the same symptoms as Tino.

On July 14, officers at the Ragunan Wildlife Park conducted a swab test on Tino and Hari. "Then the samples were sent to the PSSP IPB Bogor laboratory. The results came out on July 15, which stated that the two animals were exposed to COVID-19.