Georgia Aquarium Otters Tested Positive for COVID-19, Experiences Mild Respiratory Symptoms

The Atlanta-based Georgia Aquarium reported Sunday that otters under their care have tested positive for COVID-19. In a Facebook post, the aquarium said its Asian small-clawed otters started to experience mild respiratory symptoms.

According to a report from The Telegraph, the said mild symptoms include runny noses, sneezing, coughs, and 'mild lethargy.'

The aquarium also said in its Facebook post that even after following all recommended health and safety protocols, it is suspected that the otters may have gotten the infection from a staff member who is asymptomatic.

The said animals were taken out of their exhibit and experts are taking care of them 'behind the scenes,' wrote the aquarium.

In addition to the post on social media, Georgia Aquarium also said that they are happy to report that the otters are doing well and are expected to fully recover from the virus.

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Extremely Low Risk of Human Infection

Also according to the aquarium, the otters do not have direct contact with guests or visitors there, and therefore, there is an extremely low risk for humans contracting COVID-19 from animals.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that there is no evidence that animals are playing a vital role in transmitting the virus to humans although, it seems the virus can spread from humans to animals in certain circumstances, specifically when in close contact.

The CDC explained that people who were suspected or had COVID-19 infection need to avoid contact with animals which include livestock, wildlife, and especially pets.

The agency added it does not know yet if all animals can contract the infection from the coronavirus, although companion animals such as dogs and cats, big cats in sanctuaries or zoos, mink on farms, gorillas in zoos, and several other mammals, can become infected.

There have been reports of animals contracting COVID-19 worldwide. Most of them turned out to be infected after contact with humans who have COVID-19, said the CDC.

Link Between Animals and COVID-19

The CDC's latest updated information about COVID-19 and animals on March 25 specified that there is no known exact source of the present outbreak of COVID-19 although it has been known it initially came from an animal, possibly, a bat.

To date, the CDC information said that there is no evidence showing that animals are playing a vital role when it comes to spreading COVID-19 to people. The risk of animals transmitting the virus to humans, the information added, "is considered to be low."

More research is needed to understand further if and how different animals could be impacted by the virus. The health agency said that they are still learning about this virus although it seems that it can be transmitted from people to animals in certain circumstances, particularly during close contact between the two although it is rare.

This is what occurred with the SARS-CoV-2 which likely originally came from bats. Early reports of contagions were associated with a live animal market in Wuhan, China although the virus is currently spreading from human to human.

A related report is shown on TODAY's YouTube video below: