Bird Flu
A fatal outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu virus has claimed the lives of 47 tigers, three lions, and a panther in zoos across southern Vietnam, according to state media reports on Wednesday.
The outbreak occurred between August and September at two major facilities: the private My Quynh Safari Park, located in Long An province, and Vuon Xoai Zoo, situated in Dong Nai, near Ho Chi Minh City.
The official Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported that tests conducted by the National Centre for Animal Health Diagnosis confirmed that the animals were infected with the H5N1 type A virus, a particularly dangerous strain of bird flu.
The zoos involved in the outbreak have so far declined to comment, according to AFP reports. However, the VNA noted that none of the zoo staff who had been in close contact with the infected animals had shown any signs of respiratory illness, alleviating concerns of immediate human transmission at the facilities.
The loss of such a significant number of tigers, lions, and a panther highlights the growing threat posed by the H5N1 virus, which is not only affecting avian species but also mammals.
Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV), a local wildlife conservation NGO, has emphasized the severity of the situation.
As of 2023, Vietnam has 385 tigers in captivity, with around 310 housed in privately owned facilities and the remainder in state-run zoos. This recent outbreak could have a substantial impact on the country’s captive tiger population.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised alarms about a growing number of outbreaks among mammals caused by the H5N1 virus and other similar influenza strains, particularly since 2022.
While the virus predominantly affects birds, it is known to infect mammals and, in some cases, humans. Vietnam had already reported a human fatality from H5N1 earlier this year, in March.
This tragic event is reminiscent of a similar case in 2004, when dozens of tigers at the world’s largest tiger breeding farm in Thailand either died or were culled due to a bird flu outbreak.
Such incidents underline the critical need for enhanced monitoring and preventive measures in both wildlife sanctuaries and breeding centers, as zoonotic diseases like H5N1 continue to threaten the health of both animals and humans alike.
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