Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link
Volume 29, Number 6—June 2023
Synopsis

Probable Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from African Lion to Zoo Employees, Indiana, USA, 2021

Audrey A. Siegrist1, Kira L. Richardson, Ria R. Ghai, Brian Pope, Jamie Yeadon, Betsy Culp, Casey Barton Behravesh, Lixia Liu, Jennifer A. Brown, and Leslie V. BoyerComments to Author 
Author affiliations: Potawatomi Zoo, South Bend, Indiana, USA (A.A. Siegrist, B. Culp); Indiana Department of Health, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA (K.L. Richardson, B. Pope, J. Yeadon, L. Liu, J.A. Brown); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (R.R. Ghai, C. Barton Behravesh); University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA (L.V. Boyer)

Main Article

Figure 1

Traceback and forward contact tracing investigations of SARS-CoV-2 transmission between an African lion and zoo employees, Indiana, USA, 2021–2022. The traceback investigation narrowed the potential source of the lion’s SARS-CoV-2 infection to 6 zoo employees who had lion contact within 10 days, 1 of whom (employee Z5) had cranial contact within 5 days of the lion’s illness onset but did not have close contact with employees Z1, Z2, or Z3. Possible human sources were identified for Z1 (close occupational contact with Z7) and for Z3 (community activity), although in neither case were these potential sources shown to carry the virus. Employees Z1, Z2, and Z3 all had symptoms and had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection 3 days after their most recent cranial contact with the sick lion.

Figure 1. Traceback and forward contact tracing investigations of SARS-CoV-2 transmission between an African lion and zoo employees, Indiana, USA, 2021–2022. The traceback investigation narrowed the potential source of the lion’s SARS-CoV-2 infection to 6 zoo employees who had lion contact within 10 days, 1 of whom (employee Z5) had cranial contact within 5 days of the lion’s illness onset but did not have close contact with employees Z1, Z2, or Z3. Possible human sources were identified for Z1 (close occupational contact with Z7) and for Z3 (community activity), although in neither case were these potential sources shown to carry the virus. Employees Z1, Z2, and Z3 all had symptoms and had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection 3 days after their most recent cranial contact with the sick lion.

Main Article

1Current affiliation: Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Fresno, California, USA.

Page created: March 24, 2023
Page updated: May 17, 2023
Page reviewed: May 17, 2023
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
file_external