COVID 19 AND THE MALAYSIAN ZOO PREVENTIVE MEASURE READINESS

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic is due to SARS-CoV-2 and is spreading into 215 countries in the world. The COVID-19 is a zoonotic disease, and human to human transmission is possible via direct and indirect contact with infected individuals and contaminated surfaces. Recently, captive species of wild cats were tested positive for the COVID-19, and this is evidence of possible transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from human to animal, i.e., zooanthroponosis. In particular, the zoos should reduce the risk of introducing SARS-CoV-2 to the captive animals from the tourists or their workers. The risks can be reduced by implementing the preventive measure responses following the emergence of zoonotic disease. In this commentary article, we provide the existing disease control measures and have proposed several other preventive measures for the management of zooanthroponosis in various zoos located in Peninsular Malaysia. © 2021, Penerbit UMT. All Rights Reserved