DENVER — Two birds who died at the Denver Zoo — a Brazilian teal and Barrow’s goldeneye — tested positive for avian flu, zoo officials announced Monday.
The samples tested presumptive positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at the Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and were confirmed by the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory, according to the zoo.
Staff has isolated any other birds that may have been exposed to the virus and enhanced biosecurity measures for personnel who work with birds at the zoo, officials said. All birds in the zoo's care — which include African penguins, Humboldt penguins, lorikeets, sarus cranes and more — will not be in their outdoor habitats for at least 21 days, according to Denver Zoo. All educational experiences and programs involving birds have also been suspended.
Zoo officials said all birds are being monitored to manage any further cases of HPAI.
Citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Denver Zoo said avian flu viruses typically do not infect people, and the spread from one infected person to a close contact is "very rare." The risk to zoo guests and staff is very low, according to zoo officials.
