PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The Maricopa County Health Department has announced additional cases of bird flu, this time impacting several zoo animals, many of whom died after contracting the virus.
Health officials announced Wednesday that animals in a zoo collection at Wildlife World Zoo in Litchfield Park tested positive for the H5N1 avian flu.
Zoo officials confirmed that a cheetah, mountain lion, swamphen, Canadian goose, and a kookaburra died. A white tiger tested positive but was recovering.
Bird flu cases have been reported at the Wildlife World Zoo in west Phoenix. I’m told a cheetah, a mountain lion, an Indian goose, a swamphen and a Kookaburra died. A white tiger also tested positive but is getting treatment.@azfamily pic.twitter.com/NVRE2Oy8GV
— Holly Bock (@HollyBockTV) December 11, 2024
“People who have job-related exposures to infected animals, especially close prolonged exposure, are at higher risk of infection,” said Dr. Nick Staab, assistant medical director at the department. “Public health’s recommendations …