Two hippos at Belgian zoo contract coronavirus

The national veterinary laboratory has detected coronavirus in two hippos from the zoo in Antwerp, De Standaard reports.

“Two hippos Imani (14.5 years old) and Hermien (41 years old) are infected with the coronavirus. The animals do not have any symptoms other than a runny nose,” the report said.

Zookeeper Francis, a veterinarian, said the animals are doing well, but it is not clear how they got infected. “To my knowledge, this [COVID-19] is the first case among hippos,” he said.

The publication clarified that after the infection of the hippos, the zoo was temporarily closed to the public. All employees were tested for COVID-19 , but no one was found to have the virus.