Fallen Camel Had Tuberculosis, Transmissible to Humans: Zoo Closed

A zoonotic tuberculosis case has been registered at the Yerevan Zoo, which is common to both humans and animals. This was stated by the head of the State Food Safety Service, Grigor Grigoryan, during a meeting with journalists.

According to official data, zoonotic tuberculosis was recorded at the Yerevan Zoo, which has led to its closure for preventive measures. Grigoryan emphasized that he had raised this issue 1.5 years ago, noting that a stationary tuberculosis focus has been in operation at the zoo, and no efforts have been made to protect visitors and animals. 1.5 years ago, camel animals were infected with tuberculosis, and some were euthanized. He stressed that monitoring should have been conducted among birds, as it is possible that those animals were infected by a bird-type strain.

Today, we have already witnessed the death of a camel, the second one, which had not been euthanized despite being kept in the same enclosure, which is mandatory. Additionally, a ruminant animal was also housed in that enclosure, posing potential risks,” noted Grigoryan, adding that there was a six-day period of criminal negligence.

Tuberculosis was identified on the 30th, confirmed on the 31st, yet for six days, citizens visited the zoo with their children. At any cough, camels and large cattle can release 12 to 17 million bacteria into the air, posing a risk for human infection. It has been identified that the strain found in the camels is of human tuberculosis type, which can be transmitted from humans to animals, as well as from animals to humans. Over these six days, there has been a failure to take action, exposing people to the risk of tuberculosis infection,” stated Grigoryan, advising citizens who visited the zoo in recent days to consult a doctor for tuberculosis testing.