3 apes die from contagious bacterial infection within days of each other at Jacksonville Zoo

Three apes at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens died over the past week due to a highly infectious bacterial infection, according to the zoo.

Three apes at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens died over the past week due to a highly infectious bacterial infection, according to the zoo. Bulera, a 35-year-old female lowland gorilla died due to shigellosis – a highly contagious bacterial infection that causes gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, cramping, vomiting and dehydration, the zoo announced in a post on social media on August 22. Two brother bonobos, Jumanji and Jenga, later died from the infection, the Jacksonville, Florida, zoo said on Monday. The source of the infection is unknown, but the zoo said it could have come from an asymptomatic ape who began to shed bacteria for an unknown reason. “It’s also possible that the bacteria came from an asymptomatic staff member, but this is highly unlikely,” the zoo said. Shigella is typically spread among primates through feces, food and water. It can also impact humans, who can experience similar symptoms that typically go away on their own without antibiotic treatment, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There is no danger to zoo guests, Tracy Fenn, curator of mammals at the Jacksonville Zoo, said during a news conference.