Bubonic plague killed zoo monkey, health officials say
Pastor Dale Morgan
Bubonic plague killed zoo monkey, health officials say*
POSTED: 0131 GMT (0931 HKT), May 21, 2007
Story Highlights
• Five squirrels and a rabbit found dead on zoo grounds, officials said
• Other monkeys have showed plague symptoms
• Risk of spreading disease to humans is low, said health officials
DENVER, Colorado (Reuters) -- A Denver Zoo monkey has died of bubonic
plague, apparently after eating a squirrel stricken with the disease,
Colorado health and zoo officials said Monday.
Five squirrels and a rabbit found dead on zoo grounds tested positive
for the flea-borne disease in recent weeks, Denver Zoo spokeswoman Ana
Bowie said.
Zookeepers May 15 noticed the 8-year-old hooded capuchin monkey was
lethargic, and the next day it was found dead in its enclosure.
Zoo veterinarians sent tissue samples to a state laboratory where it was
determined the animal died of the plague. The death was announced Monday.
Zoo veterinarian Dave Kenny said that the risk of plague spreading to
humans was extremely low but that visitors were being urged to avoid
squirrels and rabbits.
"There are species in the zoo collection, especially monkeys, that could
be susceptible to the plague," said John Pape, an epidemiologist with
the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Bowie said none of the 17 other capuchin monkeys in the exhibit -- or
any other animals at the zoo -- have shown plague symptoms.
But as a precaution, all the capuchin monkeys have been moved to an
inside enclosure and are being treated with a regimen of antibiotics,
she said.