Dozens of tigers in Vietnamese zoos have died from bird flu

Nearly 50 tigers and three lions have died of bird flu in two Vietnamese zoos. The animals were captured in August and September in a zoo in Ho Chi Minh City. A specialist team destroys the carcasses.

More than thirty zoo workers had contact with the animals during their work, but reportedly did not report any health complaints.

according to local media Vietnamese health authorities are trying to prevent the virus from spreading further. The zoos are partially closed to visitors and the other animals are alone.

Animal rights activists say the outbreak is alarming. They say the increasing number of bird flu cases is a sad result of keeping animals in captivity. Animal rights group Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) emphasizes that “when animal health is at risk, people are also at risk.”

The H5N1 virus, or bird flu, often kills birds, but also increasingly mammals. Infection in humans can have serious consequences, but that is very rare.

Several people in the US have been infected with the virus in recent years. Most had intense contact with animals because of their work. Finland It was the first country to vaccinate people against bird flu as a precaution.

Watch this video about bird flu and the dangers to humans: