Twelfth monkey death at Hong Kong zoo, soil infection blamed

HONG KONG — 

A 12th monkey has died astatine a Hong Kong zoo, authorities said precocious connected Tuesday, aft 11 monkeys died successful the past week owed to melioidosis, a bacterial infection, which tin impact some humans and animals.

Housed successful 5 abstracted cages, the deceased monkeys included the De Brazza taxon arsenic good arsenic 1 communal squirrel monkey, cotton-top tamarins and white-faced sakis.

The zoo, located conscionable supra the city's fiscal center, has unopen its mammals conception since October 14, erstwhile authorities reported the archetypal batch of monkey deaths.

The authorities said it would proceed to adjacent the conception and supply protective cogwheel and wellness monitoring for unit taking attraction of the animals.

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

Authorities said 11 monkeys died of sepsis aft catching melioidosis. Tests were being done connected the 12th deceased monkey to find retired the origin of death.

Autopsies successful the past week recovered a ample magnitude of the melioidosis-inducing bacteria successful the monkeys organs, which apt came from ungraded adjacent the monkeys habitat, authorities said.

The zoo, built successful 1860, is the oldest parkland successful Hong Kong.