Following the deaths of 11 monkeys from an infectious disease linked to contaminated soil, a twelfth monkey has died, raising concerns about zoonotic diseases and animal welfare at the zoo.
Twelfth Monkey Fatality Linked to Bacterial Outbreak at Hong Kong Zoo
Twelfth Monkey Fatality Linked to Bacterial Outbreak at Hong Kong Zoo
A twelfth De Brazza's monkey has succumbed to a bacterial infection at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, prompting investigations into the outbreak's source.
A twelfth De Brazza's monkey has died at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, raising alarms regarding a bacterial outbreak that has previously claimed the lives of 11 other monkeys over the course of ten days. This recent fatality, confirmed on Tuesday, comes as authorities conduct tests to ascertain whether it succumbed to the same bacterial infection that had affected its predecessors. The monkey had been in isolation since October 13, when the first wave of deaths occurred.
According to autopsy findings, a significant presence of sepsis-inducing bacteria was discovered, which experts suspect originated from contaminated soil located near the enclosures. Hong Kong's Culture, Sports, and Tourism Secretary explained that workers digging in the soil may have inadvertently introduced the pathogen via their footwear.
Dirk Pfeiffer, a veterinary epidemiologist at City University of Hong Kong, stated that while the risk of transmission to humans is relatively low, the situation raises valid concerns given the unusual number of mortality cases in a confined animal population. He noted that soil contamination issues are often unrecognized in Asia yet can be alarming when multiple animals die unexpectedly.
The previous group of deceased monkeys included critically endangered cotton-top tamarins, white-faced sakis, and common squirrel monkeys, all of whom died from melioidosis—an infection attributed to contact with contaminated environments. This disease is caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, a bacteria endemic to tropical and subtropical climates.
Although authorities maintain that the remaining 78 mammals at the zoo are healthy, the mammals section has been closed since October 14 for intensive cleaning and disinfection. Established in 1871, the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens spans 14 acres and is the oldest park in the city.
Animal rights organization Peta has expressed its apprehensions over zoonotic diseases such as monkeypox, which can transfer from animals to humans. Peta's campaign manager, Abigail Forsyth, emphasized that the ultimate solution for safeguarding both animal and human health lies in protecting natural habitats rather than confining animals for entertainment purposes.
Melioidosis was first recorded in Hong Kong during the mid-1970s, when 24 dolphins at Ocean Park succumbed to the disease.
