Brazil confirms bird flu case at Brasília Zoo
The Brazilian government has confirmed a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) at the Brasília Zoo, following the discovery of two dead birds last week. The zoo was closed on May 28 after a dead pigeon and a dead duck were found on the premises, initially suspected of being infected. Laboratory analysis of samples from the birds confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus.
The detection of H5N1 at the zoo is of particular concern due to the facility’s role as a center that houses a diverse range of animal species of various ages, its relatively low level of biosecurity, and its exposure to a high volume of visitors.
The first confirmed case of H5N1 in Brazil was reported on May 16 at a farm located in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.
