Monkeys at Hong Kong zoo die from melioidosis

Officials with the Hong Kong Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry reported Friday that nine monkeys that died on October 13 and 14 at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens was determined to have died of septicemia caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, the agent of melioidosis, after conducting anatomy, pathological diagnosis and laboratory testing.

Eight monkeys died suddenly at the Zoological and Botanical Park on the 13th of this month. Two more monkeys were unwell and were quarantined, and one of them died the next day. The variety of monkeys affected include De Brazza’s monkeys, squirrel monkeys, cotton-top tamarins and three white-faced sakis.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Yang Yunxiong said that at the beginning of this month, the Zoological and Botanical Park carried out soil plowing work to repair the irrigation pipes under the flower beds near the cages. During this period, the shoes worn by employees in the mammal area may be stained with soil after digging, and then the soil may be brought into the cages, or the infected monkeys may have high concentrations of germs in their bodies and infect other monkeys when they have close contact with them.

He explained that the incubation period of melioidosis in primates is about one week, which coincides with the time after soil plowing at the beginning of this month. Therefore, the death of monkeys infected with melioidosis may be related to the soil plowing project.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department had taken a number of preventive measures, including closing the mammal area of ​​the Zoological and Botanical Gardens from October 14, and fully disinfecting and cleaning the farmhouse involved. Relevant employees wear protective equipment while working and pay close attention to their own conditions. They are currently in good health and all relevant test results are negative.

Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, the city’s oldest park, was opened to the public in 1871. The park occupies an area of 5.6 hectares and houses about 158 birds, 93 mammals and 21 reptiles in about 40 enclosures.