“This strain of the disease is extremely contagious and deadly to birds,” the Maryland Baltimore Zoo said in a statement on its website. “As a precautionary measure, we closed our birds and transported several of our bird species to backyard facilities with limited human contact until the threat of avian influenza subsided.” Birds at zoos could be infected by wild birds, humans or a new bird being introduced to the facility. Influenza has been found in commercial flocks and herds in 24 states and wild birds in 31 states, according to the department. animal species, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They do not usually affect people, he said. The outbreak has prompted zoos in Pennsylvania, Colorado, Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas and Ohio, as well as Maryland, to take precautionary measures, including closing outdoor bird sanctuaries and indoor bird sanctuaries. their safety. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) has created the Zoo and Aquarium All Hazards collaboration program, which works with zoos to create a plan before epidemics occur. Precautions include placing tarpaulins or nets around exhibits, closing birds to the public and enforcing strong quarantine protocols, according to Rob Vernon, AZA senior vice president for communications and strategy. “The facility will be in full response to protect their birds for at least the next two months until transmission is reduced,” Vernon told CNN in a statement.

Zoos take precautionary measures

In an effort to prevent infections, zoos have taken various measures to keep their birds safe. The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium has banned public access to birds such as ostriches, chickens and owls. Guests can see flamingos and penguins through the glass of their indoor habitats. In Colorado, the Denver Zoo has been transporting its birds indoors for at least 28 days, it said in a statement. Dr Ann Duncan, head of animal health at the Detroit Zoological Society, said moving birds indoors was a critical precaution. “By bringing these animals indoors, we can monitor them more closely and prevent contact with wild birds that may be carriers of the HPAI,” Duncan said in a February press release from the Detroit Zoo. The Maryland Zoo adheres to a multi-level response plan reviewed by the USDA as well as other government departments, it said in a statement.
The zoo, which has the largest African penguin colony in North America, has not detected cases – but the number of cases is close enough to move its birds indoors, according to its chief communications director Mike Evic. . “We are hatching penguin chicks as part of a plan to increase their numbers with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums breeding program as part of a global conservation effort,” he said. Motivated by great care, the Aviary and Humboldt Penguin exhibition at the Milwaukee County Zoo was temporarily closed, according to its website. The Dallas Zoo also moved its birds away from public housing “until the threat is over,” animal health experts say it will continue to monitor and follow protocols as required, the zoo said in a statement. The Columbus Zoo in Ohio has also closed some bird habitats as they are monitored and evaluated, according to its communications director, Jen Fields. CNN’s Gregory Wallace contributed to this report.

title: “Zoos Are Moving Their Birds Indoors To Protect Them Against A Deadly Strain Of The Avian Flu " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-24” author: “Matthew Tarbutton”

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) cases have increased in flocks and wild birds in dozens of states in recent months, prompting zoo officials to temporarily close bird shows. “This strain of the disease is extremely contagious and deadly to birds,” the Maryland Baltimore Zoo said in a statement on its website. “As a precautionary measure, we closed our birds and transported several of our bird species to backyard facilities with limited human contact until the threat of avian influenza subsided.” Birds at zoos could be infected by wild birds, humans or a new bird being introduced to the facility. Avian flu was first reported in February in a commercial turkey flock in Dubois, Indiana, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This was the first case of infection in the US since 2020. Influenza-related illness has been detected in commercial flocks and herds in backyards in 24 states and wild birds in 31 states, according to the department. Type A viruses spread naturally among wild waterfowl worldwide and can infect domestic poultry along with bird and animal species, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They do not usually affect people, he said. The outbreak has prompted zoos in Pennsylvania, Colorado, Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas and Ohio, as well as Maryland, to take precautionary measures, including closing outdoor bird sanctuaries and indoor bird sanctuaries. their safety. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) has created the Zoo and Aquarium All Hazards collaboration program, which works with zoos to create a plan before epidemics occur. Precautions include placing tarpaulins or nets around exhibits, closing birds to the public and enforcing strong quarantine protocols, according to Rob Vernon, AZA senior vice president for communications and strategy. “The facility will be in full response to protect their birds for at least the next two months until transmission is reduced,” Vernon told CNN in a statement. Zoos take precautionary measures In an effort to prevent infections, zoos have taken various measures to keep their birds safe. The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium has banned public access to birds such as ostriches, chickens and owls. Guests can see flamingos and penguins through the glass of their indoor habitats. In Colorado, the Denver Zoo has been transporting its birds indoors for at least 28 days, it said in a statement. Dr Ann Duncan, head of animal health at the Detroit Zoological Society, said moving birds indoors was a critical precaution. “By bringing these animals indoors, we can monitor them more closely and prevent contact with wild birds that may be carriers of the HPAI,” Duncan said in a February press release from the Detroit Zoo. The Maryland Zoo adheres to a multi-level response plan reviewed by the USDA as well as other government departments, it said in a statement. The zoo, which has the largest African penguin colony in North America, has not detected cases – but the number of cases is close enough to move its birds indoors, according to its chief communications director Mike Evic. . “We are hatching penguin chicks as part of a plan to increase their numbers with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums breeding program as part of a global conservation effort,” he said. Motivated by great care, the Aviary and Humboldt Penguin exhibition at the Milwaukee County Zoo has been temporarily closed, according to its website. The Dallas Zoo also moved its birds away from public shelters “until the threat is over,” saying animal health experts would continue to monitor and follow protocols as required, the zoo said in a statement. statement. The Columbus Zoo in Ohio has also closed some bird habitats as they are monitored and evaluated, according to its communications director, Jen Fields. This story was first published on CNN.com, “Zoos move their birds indoors to protect them from a deadly strain of bird flu.”