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Twelfth monkey death at Hong Kong zoo, soil infection blamed


FILE - A black-and-white ruffed lemur is seen at Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens on October 21, 2024. Eleven monkeys at the zoo died of sepsis following melioidosis infection in a week, officials said.
FILE - A black-and-white ruffed lemur is seen at Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens on October 21, 2024. Eleven monkeys at the zoo died of sepsis following melioidosis infection in a week, officials said.

A 12th monkey has died at a Hong Kong zoo, authorities said late on Tuesday, after 11 monkeys died in the past week due to melioidosis, a bacterial infection, which can affect both humans and animals.

Housed in five separate cages, the deceased monkeys included the De Brazza species as well as one common squirrel monkey, cotton-top tamarins and white-faced sakis.

The zoo, located just above the city's financial center, has shut its mammals section since October 14, when authorities reported the first batch of monkey deaths.

The government said it would continue to close the section and provide protective gear and health monitoring for staff taking care of the animals.

"The health conditions of the 78 mammals are normal," the Leisure and Cultural Services Department said.

Authorities said 11 monkeys died of sepsis after catching melioidosis. Tests were being done on the 12th deceased monkey to find out the cause of death.

Autopsies in the past week found a large amount of the melioidosis-inducing bacteria in the monkeys organs, which likely came from soil near the monkeys habitat, authorities said.

The zoo, built in 1860, is the oldest park in Hong Kong.

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    Reuters

    Reuters is a news agency founded in 1851 and owned by the Thomson Reuters Corporation based in Toronto, Canada. One of the world's largest wire services, it provides financial news as well as international coverage in over 16 languages to more than 1000 newspapers and 750 broadcasters around the globe.

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