sciencemag.org SCIENCEPHOTO: © WCSspread because they show past infections
that left people with antibodies that might
protect against future infection. Initial
results from Solidarity II could be avail-
able within a few months. Smaller antibody
surveys launched last week by groups in
California, Germany, and elsewhere could
yield preliminary results even sooner.Tiger tests positive for virus
ANIMAL SCIENCE | Nadia, a 4-year-old
Malayan tiger (left) at the Bronx Zoo, has
tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
announced this week. The report is the
first case of a tiger being infected by the
virus, and the first known infection of
any animal in the United States. Several
other lions and tigers at the zoo showed
symptoms of respiratory illness, but none
was tested. The big cats may have been
exposed to a zoo employee infected with
the virus. “At this time, there is no evidence
to suggest that any animals, including pets
or livestock, can spread COVID-19 infection
to people,” USDA reported.Coronavirus studies fell off
PUBLISHING | The number of published
research articles about the COVID-
virus has exploded. During outbreaks
of two other diseases caused by human
coronaviruses—severe acute respiratory
syndrome starting in 2002 and Middle East
respiratory syndrome in 2012—relevant
articles also rose, but they dwindled quickly
afterward, according to a preprint study
posted in March by researchers at Ben-
Gurion University of the Negev. Less than
0.5% of all studies in virology published
over the past 20 years focused on coronavi-
ruses, compared with 8.1% on HIV, they also
noted. A separate preprint study by a team
at the University of Southampton found a
similar rise and abrupt fall in funding for
coronavirus research.Virus-hunting project extended
ZOONOTIC DISEASE | After being criticized
for winding down a program designed to
provide early warning of pathogens that
have jumped from animals to humans, suchNEWS“
It will be a few billion dollars we’ll waste. It is worth it.
”
Billionaire Bill Gates, on The Daily Show, about his foundation’s plan to build seven factories to make leading
COVID-19 vaccine candidates, then abandon any factory whose vaccine proves ineffective.IN BRIEF
Edited by Jeffrey BrainardbStudy probes antibody prevalence
IMMUNOLOGY | To understand how many
people have been infected with the new
coronavirus, the World Health Organization
expects to launch this month a coordinated
study to test blood samples for the presence
of antibodies to the microbe. The program,
Solidarity II, will involve more than half a
dozen countries. Knowing the true number
of cases, including mild ones, will help pin
down the prevalence and mortality rates
of COVID-19 in different age groups, which
could help policymakers decide how long
school closures and other shutdowns should
last. Compared with assays that directly
detect the COVID-19 virus, antibody tests
can give a better indication of the virus’ trueDISPATCHES FROM THE PANDEMIC114 10 APRIL 2020 • VOL 368 ISSUE 6487