A Bronx Zoo tiger tests positive with the coronavirus.

A tiger at the Bronx zoo has been confirmed to be infected with Covid-19, in what is believed to be a case of what one official called “human-to-cat transmission.”

“This is the first instance of a tiger being infected with Covid-19,” according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which noted that although only one tiger was tested, the virus appeared to have infected other animals as well.

“Several lions and tigers at the zoo showed symptoms of respiratory illness,” according to a statement by the Agriculture Department.

Public health officials believe that the large cats caught the virus from a zoo employee. The tiger appeared visibly sick by March 27.

In a statement, the agriculture department suggested that those infected with the virus should, “out of an abundance of caution,” avoid contact with their pets and other animals.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that it is “aware of a very small number of pets outside the United States reported to be infected.”

The C.D.C. has said that it does not have evidence that pets can spread the coronavirus.

The sick tigers include: Nadia, a 4-year old female Malayan tiger, and her sister, Azul, as well as two Amur tigers. They live in the zoo’s Tiger Mountain exhibit.

While the zookeepers generally keep a barrier between them and the cats, they do get within a few feet of the animals. “During the course of feeding and doing enrichment they will come within feet of them, but on opposite sides of the barrier,” said Dr. Paul Calle, chief veterinarian at the Bronx Zoo.(CNN)