Could LSU’s Mike the Tiger Get the Coronavirus?

According to The Advocate (Baton Rouge), caretakers at LSU are taking extra precautionary measures when tending to Mike the Tiger, the university's mascot, after a tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. The Bronx Zoo's four-year-old Malayan tiger, Nadia, is suspected to be the first known infection in an animal in this country and in any tiger worldwide. On Monday, Ginger Guttner, spokeswoman for the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, said that direct contact between Mike and his caretakers was cut off over three weeks ago, just to be safe. "At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that any animals, including pets or livestock, can spread COVID-19 infection to people," Guttner said. Because the tiger's health and well-being is their first priority, Mike's caretakers wear gloves and masks while working with him in the night house. "We will, as always, monitor him closely," she added. Anyone interested in visiting Mike can view him on LSU's Tiger Cam.