Philadelphia Zoo among those hiding birds as avian flu spreads across US

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — The Philadelphia Zoo and different zoos throughout North America are transferring their birds indoors and away from individuals and wildlife as they attempt to shield them from the extremely contagious and doubtlessly lethal avian influenza.

“Eagles, the emus, the penguins, the flamingos. If you concentrate on all of the animals of hen species we now have on the zoo, all of them are being housed indoors proper now,” mentioned Rachel Metz, with the Philadelphia Zoo.

“There are nonetheless a number of different animals individuals can see right here on the zoo, together with the rhinoceros, the giraffe, the nice apes, the goats…so it is nonetheless a wonderful expertise even with out the birds being out.”

Practically 23 million chickens and turkeys have already been killed throughout the US to restrict the unfold of the virus, and zoos are working laborious to stop any of their birds from assembly the identical destiny. It will be particularly upsetting for zoos to need to kill any of the endangered or threatened species of their care.

“It will be extraordinarily devastating,” mentioned Maria Franke, who’s the supervisor of welfare science at Toronto Zoo, which has lower than two dozen Loggerhead Shrike songbirds that it is breeding with the hope of reintroducing them into the wild. “We take superb care and the welfare and properly being of our animals is the utmost significance. There’s a number of workers that has shut connections with the animals that they take care of right here on the zoo.”

Toronto Zoo employees are including roofs to some out of doors hen reveals and double-checking the mesh surrounding enclosures to make sure it is going to preserve wild birds out.

Birds shed the virus by way of their droppings and nasal discharge. Specialists say it may be unfold by way of contaminated gear, clothes, boots and autos carrying provides. Analysis has proven that small birds that squeeze into zoo reveals or buildings may unfold the flu, and that mice may even observe it inside.

Thus far, no outbreaks have been reported at zoos, however there have been wild birds discovered lifeless that had the flu.

A lot of the steps zoos are taking are designed to stop contact between wild birds and zoo animals. In some locations, officers are requiring staff to vary into clear boots and don protecting gear earlier than coming into hen areas.

When hen flu instances are present in poultry, officers order the whole flock to be killed as a result of the virus is so contagious. Nevertheless, the U.S. Division of Agriculture has indicated that zoos may have the ability to keep away from that by isolating contaminated birds and probably euthanizing a small variety of them.

Sarah Woodhouse, director of animal well being at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, mentioned she is optimistic after speaking with state and federal regulators.

“All of them agree that ordering us to depopulate a big a part of our assortment can be absolutely the last-ditch effort. In order that they’re actually desirous about working with us to see what we are able to do to ensure that we’re not going to unfold the illness whereas additionally with the ability to maintain our birds and never need to euthanize,” Woodhouse mentioned.

Among the many precautions zoos are taking is to maintain birds in smaller teams in order that if a case is discovered, only some can be affected. The USDA and state veterinarians would make the ultimate determination about which birds needed to be killed.

“Euthanasia is admittedly the one strategy to preserve it from spreading,” mentioned Luis Padilla, who’s vp of animal collections on the Saint Louis Zoo. “That is why we now have so many of those very proactive measures in place.”

The Nationwide Aviary in Pittsburgh – the nation’s largest — is offering particular person well being checks for every of its roughly 500 birds. Many already dwell in giant glass enclosures or out of doors habitats the place they do not have direct publicity to wildlife, mentioned Dr. Pilar Fish, the aviary’s senior director of veterinary drugs and zoological development.

Kansas Metropolis Zoo CEO Sean Putney mentioned he is heard just a few complaints from guests, however most individuals appear OK with not attending to see some birds. “I feel our friends perceive that we now have what’s in the very best pursuits of the animals in thoughts once we make these selections although they can not get to see them,” Putney mentioned.

Officers emphasize that hen flu does not jeopardize the security of meat or eggs or signify a big threat to human well being. No contaminated birds are allowed into the meals provide, and correctly cooking poultry and eggs kills micro organism and viruses. No human instances have been discovered within the U.S., in accordance the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

This new hen flu is already been known as the worst outbreak since 2015 when 50 million birds both died or had been slaughtered.

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Related Press Writers David Pitt contributed to this report from Des Moines, Iowa, Lindsay Whitehurst contributed from Salt Lake Metropolis, Julie Watson contributed from San Diego, Chris Grygiel contributed from Seattle and Tom Tait contributed from Las Vegas.