Bird flu outbreak in Pakistan zoo

An outbreak of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu has killed at least four peacocks and a goose in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, officials say.

A report said the Marghzar zoo has been shut down temporarily and authorities have been vaccinating birds.

Earlier this month the virus was found in chickens in nearby Rawalpindi.

Bird flu normally only infects birds and though it can be contracted by humans, scientists say the chances are extremely low.

Mohammad Afzal of Pakistan’s Ministry of Agriculture told the Reuters news agency that tests conducted on the dead birds at the Marghzar zoo had found “they were all positive for H5N1”.

Source for avian influenza story: BBC

Posted by on 02/20 at 07:29 AM

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