Research sheds light on bacteria outbreak that killed 1 person, several ABQ BioPark Zoo primates

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A bacterial outbreak in Albuquerque between May 2021 and November 2023 that spread among people and primates from the ABQ BioPark Zoo, came from the same source, according to newly published research.

The illness that plagued the community was determined to be shigella, a highly contagious gastrointestinal infection that is spread through the fecal-oral route and can be contracted by drinking contaminated food or water or coming into contact with someone who is sick or recently infected with shigellosis.

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The shigella outbreak left one person dead, and nearly 70% of people with the infection were hospitalized, according to the research article. The infection spread into the zoo, resulting in the death of six primates and leaving others infected…

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