Image by Alexa from Pixabay
A fourth gorilla death has been announced connected to the Jacksonville Zoo Shigella outbreak. Tragedy continues spread as zoo staff struggle to contain the highly contagious illness.
Jacksonville Zoo announced three-year old Kevin’s death in a heartbreaking update to the latest in a string of bad news on September 10, 2024.
“As we continue to address the Shigella infection impacting our apes, it is with heavy hearts we share the passing of three-year-old wester lowland gorilla, Keven, who succumbed to the illness.”
His recovery efforts were up and down.
“He fought very hard against the infection, showing signs of recovery at times.” Despite around the clock care, he was unable to recover from his illness.
The first death in the tragic Jacksonville Zoo Shigella outbreak was Bulera. A 35-year-old female western lowland gorilla. A Celebrity at the zoo.
Days later, tragedy struck again.
On August 26, 2024 the deaths of brothers Jumanji and Jenga, Bonobo residents at the Jacksonville Zoo. Both Jumanji and Jenga had existing heart conditions making them more vulnerable to Shigella infection and more severe illness.
Primates, including gorillas, bonobos, apes, and even humans are susceptible to Shigella infections.
You heard that right.
Humans are primates.
While in humans, Shigella illnesses are often mild with symptoms that generally resolve on their own without medical intervention. In apes, on the other hand, infections can be much more serious. Their immune systems have a much harder time fighting off the harmful bacteria. Those with underlying conditions may be even more susceptible.
In a statement on their website, Jacksonville Zoo addresses the unfortunate situation.
“We are fully focused on addressing the needs of the apes, working tirelessly to support the animals through their recovery. While many of the apes are at various stages of treatment and recovery, thanks to our team’s hard work and resilience, we continue to experience significant progress. Still, Shigella is highly infectious. Recovery within the apes may be fluid and may take time to fully resolve. We continue to exercise strict biosecurity measures and closely monitor the situation. To learn more about the infection, the precautions we’re taking, how you can help and other updates, visit jacksonvillezoo.org/shigella. We appreciate the continued support during this challenging time.’
Despite the challenges, the zoo continues to attempt transparency through this tragedy.
While Jacksonville Zoo is not entirely clear on how these primates became sick, there are a few ways that illness could have made its way onto zoo grounds.
Infection could have come from an asymptomatic staff member, though this is unlikely. Alternatively, food is a more likely suspect. If a food item was contaminated with the bacteria and fed in their meal, the primate could become sick.
This highly contagious infection is spread through feces, food, or water. Bonobos and gorillas “timeshare” spaces like the trail system and Kapok tree. Bacteria left from feces could have infected the area, transferring illness between gorillas and bonobos.
“As soon as symptoms were discovered, quarantine was put into place.” Those efforts, however, proved too late for these four souls.
When primates began falling sick, zoo staff responded by initiating several activities to help mitigate the problem and prevent the spread.
Jacksonville Zoo immediately implemented quarantine protocols as soon as infection was suspected. Segregating sick primates from those experiencing symptoms or with close contact with symptomatic primates.
Staff personal protective equipment (PPE), like suits, shoe covers, masks, and gloves were instituted. Staff entering the primate building were required to suit up to contain risks of cross-contamination to other enclosures.
In addition to changing bedding materials multiple times a day, cleaning protocols were “intensified.” Keep the enclosures and areas around sick primates as clean as possible help control the spread of illness.
Teams of staff were dedicated to symptomatic primates. A separate team was dedicated to those who still remained healthy. Keeping these staff separate was meant to minimize potential cross-contamination risk.
Treatment for these gorillas and bonobos consist of fluids and antibiotics. Staff continues to monitor activity levels, appetite, hydration, and stools. Based on this information, additional treatments such as IV treatments under sedation are necessary.
While also possible in humans, these primates are more susceptible to invasive illness, where gastrointestinal infection spread to other organs. This complicates treatment and often results in periods of improvement and relapse. Prolonging the illness.
In humans, Shigella often presents as a diarrheal illness.
Symptoms often include diarrhea that can be bloody and lasting more than three days, fever, stomach pain, and continuing to feel the need to pass stool (poop) even when the bowels are empty.
These symptoms often begin within a day or two of exposure and can last up to seven days.
In humans, Shigella bacterial illness is also spread through fecal contamination.
Talk about not needing another reason to wash your hands.
Hand washing is the number one way to prevent most foodborne illnesses. Second and third being cooking food to an appropriate internal temperature and safe temperature handling.
Wash your hands after using the restroom, helping someone in the restroom, or changing a diaper. Wash your hands before you eat and prepare food for yourself or others. Also wash your hands after coming in contact with animals or their living spaces.
If you’d like to know more about food safety topics in the news, like “Fourth Death Announced in Jacksonville Zoo Shigella Outbreak,” check out the Make Food Safe Blog. We regularly update trending topics, foodborne infections in the news, recalls, and more! Stay tuned for quality information to help keep your family safe, while The Lange Law Firm, PLLC strives to Make Food Safe!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)
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