Dozens of Zoo Tigers Die After Contracting Bird Flu in Southern Vietnam
Dozens of tigers have died in zoos in southern Vietnam after a bird flu outbreak, according to state media. Three lions and a panther were also reported to have died of the virus alongside 47 tigers since August and September.
The deaths occurred at the private My Quynh safari park in Long An province and the Vuon Xoai zoo in Dong Nai, near Ho Chi Minh City. The animals died due to H5N1 type A virus, as confirmed by test results from the National Centre for Animal Health Diagnosis.
The tigers at Vuon Xoai zoo had been fed chicken before they died, and authorities are tracking the source of the contaminated chicken to determine the cause of the outbreak.
No zoo staff members in close contact with the animals have experienced respiratory symptoms, and currently, these people are in normal health.
The H5N1 strain is highly lethal and has caused severe disease in poultry and occasionally in mammals and humans. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns against consuming raw or undercooked meat and eggs from regions experiencing bird flu outbreaks due to the high risk of infection.
