Vienna zoo puts down its pelicans because of bird flu
Posted March 10, 2017 6:00 am
VIENNA (AP) - Vienna's Schoenbrunn Zoo has euthanized its flock of 20 Dalmatian pelicans after examinations showed them infected with bird flu.
A zoo statement says the birds were put down Friday, a day after the first one was found with the disease.
The zoo says the pelicans were infected with the H5N8 strain that is harmless to humans but spreads rapidly among birds. It has closed down facilities used by the pelicans to contain the virus.
Bird flu outbreaks in Europe, the United States and Asia have led poultry farmers to destroy tens of thousands of chickens and other livestock birds.
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.