9 monkeys died over 2 days at Hong Kong’s oldest zoo located in the city’s Zoological and Botanical Gardens.
Officials say the monkeys were infected with melioidosis, a disease caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei found in soils and muddy water.
The secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism said the monkeys likely came into contact with the bacteria through contaminated soil and water after some recent digging work near their cages to repair irrigation pipes.
Other possibilities are that infected monkeys had close contact with other monkeys or that staff walked into cages with contaminated shoes.
The deaths matched the incubation period of about a week for melioidosis in primates after the soil work.
Officials stressed melioidosis typically spreads this way and there is low risk to humans from infected animals or people.
The eight monkeys found dead on Sunday and one more on Monday were various species including De Brazza’s monkey, squirrel monkey and three cotton-top tamarins, which are critically endangered.
An investigation was launched and meetings held between relevant departments to discuss the incident.
Source: AP
