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Hong Kong authorities say soil infection eliminated monkeys, as 11th dies

Melioidosis, a bacterial infection, was accountable for eliminating a minimum of 9 monkeys at a Hong Kong zoo, authorities said, as an additional two died over the weekend, taking the overall to 11 in the past week.

Part of the zoo, built in 1860 and the earliest park in Hong Kong, has actually remained shut since Oct. 14 when authorities reported the first batch of monkey deaths.

Housed in 5 separate cages, the deceased monkeys consisted of the De Brazza types as well as one typical squirrel monkey, cotton-top tamarins and white-faced sakis.

Authorities stated nine monkeys died of sepsis after capturing melioidosis. Autopsies found a large quantity of the melioidosis-inducing bacteria in the monkeys organs, which likely came from soil near the monkeys environment, they stated.

Additional tests are needed to identify the cause of death of the latest two monkeys.

Kevin Yeung, the city's culture and tourist minister, told regional broadcaster RTHK that operates at the zoo needed digging up the soil near where the monkeys lived.

Workers were then thought to have actually brought polluted soil into the cage through their shoes, he stated.

We have cordoned off the entire mammals area for the time being, so there will be no sort of contact in between normal citizens with the animals, he stated.

The bacteria is particularly typical in damp clay soil. Even though it can impact both humans and animals, it is unlikely to be passed from animals to humans, authorities said.

The zoo, located simply above the city's financial cetnre and near government house, homes around 158 birds, 70 mammals and 21 reptiles in about 40 enclosures.

(source: Reuters)