Belgium Registers First Cases of COVID-19 in Hippos

Matilda Omonaiye/

Two hippos in Belgium that vets noticed were “expelling snot” have been placed in quarantine after testing positive for the coronavirus, Reuters reported.

The Antwerp-based zoo announced this today, in what appears to be the first known case of covid-19 among the species.

It remains unclear how hippopotamuses Imani, 14, and Hermien, 41, contracted the virus, but the pair appear to be doing well and have no symptoms other than their runny, sticky noses.

“To my knowledge, this is the first time in this species,” the zoo’s vet, Francis Vercammen, said, according to Reuters. “Worldwide, this virus has been reported mainly in great apes and felines.”

While hippos tend to have wet noses, vets decided to test the pair after they spotted the animals were producing thick mucus. The zoo said that staff, including the hippos’ handlers, had not displayed any symptoms and had tested negative for the infection.

The zoo, which is home to more than 5,000 animals, currently operates with a range of measures in place to help stop the spread of the coronavirus — which has claimed at least 27,000 lives in Belgium.

Visitors must wear a face covering, abide by social distancing measures and all animal feeding demonstrations have been cancelled until further notice, according to the zoo’s official website.

From dogs to tigers, leopards to deer, positive cases of covid-19 among animals have been recorded during the global pandemic, raising questions about how infections are transmitted between humans and animals.

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