Nine apes at San Diego Zoo get COVID-19 vaccinations

Nine great apes at the San Diego Zoo have been vaccinated against COVID-19 after some gorillas were infected.

This handout photo released by San Diego Zoo Global on January 25, 2021 shows silverback gorilla Winston (L) and gorilla Imani recovering after a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, in several troop members at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park earlier that month, in San Diego, California. [Photo: VCG]

Four orangutans and five bonobos received COVID-19 injections in January and February, the zoo confirmed earlier this week.

The vaccinations followed a January outbreak of COVID-19 at the zoo's Safari Park. Eight western lowland gorillas got the virus, probably by exposure to a zookeeper who tested positive for COVID-19, officials said.

The gorillas' symptoms were mild and limited to coughing, congestion and fatigue. They have fully recovered, according to the zoo.