Hong Kong zoo where 12 monkeys died from bacterial infection to fully reopen on Friday
Hong Kong Free Press
The Hong Kong zoo where 12 monkeys died from a bacterial infection will fully reopen to the public on Friday.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced on Wednesday that the mammals section of the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens would reopen on Friday, two months after it was closed following the discovery of eight dead monkeys on October 14. Four more died later.
“Multiple preventive and control measures have immediately been implemented, including thoroughly disinfecting and cleansing the animal cages, arranging for staff who take care of the animals to put on protective gear and reminding them to closely monitor their own health conditions,” the LCSD said on Wednesday.
The monkeys, the 12th of which died on October 22, succumbed to sepsis induced by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei.
Burkholderia pseudomallei causes melioidosis, an infectious disease that affects animals and humans, and spreads mainly through contact with contaminated soil, air, or water. According to the Centre for Health Protection, “melioidosis is an endemic disease in Hong Kong and melioidosis cases have been recorded in Hong Kong each year.”
Michael Rivera, a biological anthropologist at the University of Hong Kong, told HKFP in October that fatal melioidosis infections in animals had been reported around the world.
“The occurrence of this infection is common in Southeast Asia, but both infections and deaths are more common among captive primates,” Rivera said.
“This is because captive primates may have weakened immune response[s] due to the stresses of confinement, less of their natural social stimulus, and the lack of a natural environment,” he added.
Hong Kong reported its first human case of melioidosis in 1983, according to the Centre for Health Protection, though it was not until November 2022 that melioidosis became a statutory notifiable disease – meaning that notification of any suspected or confirmed cases is required by law.
That year saw a surge in cases, with 46 infections confirmed in total. Of them, 37 were recorded between August and December, 30 of which involved residents of Sham Shui Po – one of the city’s poorest districts. Nine of the victims died.
During an October press conference to announce the findings of the necropsies on the first nine monkeys found dead, then-culture minister Kevin Yeung said experts suspected the melioidosis outbreak at the zoo was due to digging work in early October.
Staff caring for the monkeys may have accidentally transferred contaminated soil to the primates’ cages on their shoes, he said, adding that the disease could also have been transmitted among the monkeys.
On Wednesday, the LCSD said: “Bacterial tests for staff have shown negative results, while samples collected from surrounding soil and water have also tested negative.”
However, “rigorous environmental hygiene management measures and work guidelines” remained in place, and visitors were warned against touching, feeding or “throwing anything” to the animals. “Persons feeling unwell should not visit the park,” the LCSD said.
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