Dozens of Captive Tigers and Lions in Vietnam Die from Bird Flu

Hanoi:In a troubling outbreak, dozens of captive tigers and lions in southern Vietnam have succumbed to bird flu over the past month. The Ministry of Health confirmed that tests on two samples from deceased tigers at the Mango Garden Resort in Dong Nai province were positive for the H5N1 strain of the virus.

Since early September, 20 tigers at the resort have died, raising alarms about the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza among mammals. In a related incident, state media reported that 27 tigers and three lions died from the virus at My Quynh Safari in Long An province between September 6 and 18.

Health officials suspect that the tigers at Mango Garden Resort contracted the virus after being fed infected chicken. Phan Van Phuc, an official from Dong Nai's Centre for Disease Control, stated, “It’s likely that the tigers had been infected from sick chicken, and the authorities are tracking the source of the chicken to determine the cause.”

The recent incidents have reignited concerns about the potential for human-to-human transmission of bird flu, as the virus has been detected in various mammals worldwide, including dogs, cats, and dolphins.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued warnings against consuming raw or undercooked meat and eggs from regions facing avian influenza outbreaks, emphasizing the high risk of infection.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, aiming to contain the outbreak and safeguard public health.