8 big cats at St. Louis Zoo test positive for COVID

Two African lions and six other big cats at the St. Louis Zoo have tested positive for COVID-19.

Zoo officials said Thursday that the animals are expected to make a full recovery. Besides the lions, two snow leopards, two jaguars, an Amur tiger and a puma have been infected. Zoo officials said most of the infected cats showed no signs of illness, but a few had a decreased appetite and were less active for short periods of time.

Some also developed respiratory symptoms. Officials suspect the animals became infected after they received their first dose of an animal-specific version of the COVID-19 vaccine but before they received their second dose.