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Ng Kang-chung

One more monkey died at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens on Sunday, taking the total to 11 since the outbreak of an infectious disease at the park last week.
Authorities said a necropsy would be performed on the common squirrel monkey to ascertain if the cause of death matched the melioidosis diagnosis in earlier cases.
The latest monkey was one of two that had been put under isolated surveillance since last Wednesday after showing signs of illness. The other died on Saturday.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department, which manages the park, said a De Brazza’s monkey was still being quarantined.
“At present, one De Brazza’s monkey that has been isolated since October 13 is still under isolated surveillance and given medication,” the department said.
The news of the death broke hours after a senior official denied accusations the government had not been not forthcoming with information about the number of monkeys being quarantined.
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said on Sunday the decision to isolate animals was simply part of standard operating procedures, also reporting the remaining 70 monkeys at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens were showing no signs of abnormalities.
“The relevant departments have held another meeting and we visited the park ... Overall, we think the preventive measures in place are sufficient, and we shall continue with this plan,” he said.
The health of the animals at the zoo in Central has been in the spotlight amid the series of monkey deaths.

Three cotton-top tamarins, three white-faced saki monkeys, a De Brazza’s monkey and a common squirrel monkey were found dead last Sunday. Another white-faced saki monkey died on the following day, with the causes initially a mystery.
Yeung said last week that laboratory tests and necropsies found the nine monkeys had caught melioidosis, possibly as a result of digging work near their enclosure earlier this month.
He said at the time only one other monkey was still in isolation and its condition was “stable”.
But on Saturday, the government announced the death of another common squirrel monkey, and that it was one of two that had been put under isolated surveillance and medication on October 16.
Asked why he did not mention in last Friday’s press briefing that other monkeys were being quarantined, Yeung said: “It has always been a usual situation that animals may need to be put under isolation. Sometimes there will be different medical procedures for them if they feel unwell.”
A De Brazza’s monkey is still in isolation, according to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
Yeung had said a necropsy would be conducted to determine whether the 10th death was also linked to a melioidosis infection.


Melioidosis is endemic in the city. Humans and animals can catch the disease through contact with contaminated soil or water, but animal-to-animal or animal-to-human transmission is rare.
While there is no vaccine for melioidosis, the disease can be treated by antibiotics.
Dr Fiona Woodhouse, a deputy director at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said infections were more likely after certain intense weather events.
“According to literature, infection cases are more common after typhoons or storms. The bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei of melioidosis in soil and muddy water may become exposed to the ground after typhoons or storms, and the bacteria could spread more easily,” she said.
“While the fatality rate of melioidosis is high, instances of person-to-person, animal-to-human and human-to-animal transmission are uncommon.”
So far this year, 19 melioidosis human infection cases have been recorded in Hong Kong. There were 17 cases in 2023. Most involved those with chronic illnesses.


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A staff member feeds common squirrel monkeys at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens in Central. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Culture chief Kevin Yeung says the remaining 70 monkeys at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens are showing no signs of abnormalities. Photo: Dickson Lee

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A De Brazza’s monkey at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens in Central. Photo: Sam Tsang

Nine monkeys that died at the Hong Kong zoo succumbed to sepsis brought on by a melioidosis infection. Photo: Sam Tsang

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Tourism chief Kevin Yeung (centre) says necropsies and laboratory tests revealed the diagnosis of melioidosis. Photo: Dickson Lee

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Common squirrel monkey was one of two that was put under isolated surveillance last week after showing signs of illness


Common squirrel monkey was one of two that was put under isolated surveillance last week after showing signs of illness.


Hong Kong society