'Animals Contracts Tubercculosis'

Alexander’s finding is said to be the first time free-range wildlife have been found to have human disease.

Alexander told the symposium that although the research on the issue is still not conclusive, there are suspicions that humans may be responsible for spreading the disease to the mongoose. She said one possibility is that the mongoose could have picked the bacteria that cause tuberculosis by nosing around in human waste, septic tanks and garbage centres. She said unlike humans who can be infected with tuberculosis for years, mongooses appear to sicken and die immediately.