(CNN) Two hippos at a zoo in Antwerp, Belgium, have tested positive for Covid-19, in what is believed to be the first such infection reported in the species.
The hippos, named Imani and Hermien , have shown no symptoms "other than runny noses," according to a news release from the zoo.
How the animals were exposed to the virus is unknown -- their caretakers have not shown any Covid-19 symptoms and all tested negative for the virus, the release said.
Imani, who is 14 years old, and Hermien, who is 41, are being kept in isolation for now and cannot be seen by visitors, the zoo said.
"To my knowledge, this is the first known contamination in this species. Globally, this virus has mostly been reported in great apes and felines," said the zoo's veterinarian Francis Vercammen, who oversaw their testing for the coronavirus.
thiroks on December 7th, 2021 at 19:44 UTC »
We’re never going to beat this disease with these damn anti vax hippos running around infecting each other
nemoomen on December 7th, 2021 at 18:21 UTC »
I'm kind of surprised we don't already know what animals are likely to get Covid. Isn't it similar to other coronaviruses? Or have some physical characteristics that would imply transmissibility to hippos and white-tail deer?
illegible on December 7th, 2021 at 18:13 UTC »
For a second there I thought there was a breed of hippo known as "runny-nosed Hippos"