>Several gorillas at the San Diego zoo safari park have tested positive for coronavirus, with some experiencing symptoms, in what is believed to be the first outbreak among such primates in captivity. > >The park’s executive director, Lisa Peterson, told the Associated Press on Monday that eight gorillas who live together at the park are believed to have the virus and several have been coughing. Gavin Newsom, California’s governor, confirmed at his Monday news briefing that at least two gorillas had tested positive while three were symptomatic. > >It appears the infection came from a member of the park’s wildlife care team who also tested positive for the virus but has been asymptomatic. The safari park confirmed the presence of Covid-19 through fecal samples from the gorillas, and the test results do not “definitively rule out the presence of the virus in other members of the troop”, the zoo said in a statement. > >Veterinarians are closely monitoring the gorillas, who will remain in their habitat at the park, north of San Diego, according to Peterson. “Aside from some congestion and coughing, the gorillas are doing well,” she said. “The troop remains quarantined together and are eating and drinking. We are hopeful for a full recovery.” >...
@geniusmusing That's another negative sign. Each time the #SARS-CoV-2 virus crosses a species barrier, it faces different evolutionary pressures. That may be why it and the SARS ( #SARS-CoV-1 ) #coronavirus split to begin with.