Bird flu prompts Omaha zoo to close exhibits | News, Sports, Jobs

This undated picture offered by Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium reveals a pink-backed pelican. The zoo has closed a number of reveals and brought different precautions after one in every of its pelicans died from the hen flu on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022. (Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium through AP)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium has closed a number of reveals and brought different precautions after one in every of its pelicans died from the hen flu.

The zoo stated one in every of its pink-backed pelicans that died on Thursday examined constructive for the extremely pathogenic avian influenza. A second pelican turned unwell Friday and was euthanized.

As a precaution, the zoo has closed its Lied Jungle, Desert Dome and Simmons Aviary reveals to the general public for at the very least 10 days.

The Omaha zoo was one in every of many throughout the nation that closed down its aviaries and moved birds inside every time attainable to assist defend them from avian influenza that’s primarily unfold by the droppings of untamed birds.

The zoo reopened its aviary in June after hen flu instances waned, however some instances continued to be reported throughout the nation all through the summer time, and the outbreak has began to make a resurgence this fall.

Greater than 47 million chickens and turkeys have been slaughtered in 42 states to restrict the unfold of hen flu throughout this 12 months’s outbreak. Officers order complete flocks to be killed when the virus is discovered on farms. Greater than 6 million chickens and turkeys had been slaughtered final month to restrict the unfold of the illness.

The Omaha zoo additionally took precautions to guard its birds by limiting workers entry to them and requiring staff to scrub their sneakers earlier than coming into areas the place the birds are saved.

The zoo stated its pelicans dwell outdoors, in order that they do come into contact with wild birds. However the pelicans don’t come into contact with different zoo birds and no different birds within the zoo’s assortment have proven signs of hen flu.

“It is rather essential that Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium instantly tighten our protocols to guard our birds and guard towards any potential unfold of avian influenza,” Sarah Woodhouse, the zoo’s director of animal well being, stated in an announcement. “That is essential each to stop an infection of different zoo birds, and to stop the virus from being dispersed off zoo grounds.”

Not like on farms, zoos are typically allowed to isolate and deal with an contaminated hen so long as they take precautions to guard the opposite birds of their collections.

Well being officers emphasize that hen flu doesn’t jeopardize meals security as a result of contaminated birds aren’t allowed into the meals provide and correctly cooking meat and eggs to 165 levels Fahrenheit will kill any viruses.