Deadly bird flu strikes 47 tigers in Vietnamese zoos

vietnam - 47 tigers in Vietnamese zoos have been infected with a deadly bird flu virus, believed to be from contaminated chicken feed.

The animals became infected in August and September, in zoos located in Ho Chi Minh city. An official from the Center for Disease Control in Phan Van Phuc, Dong Nai province, stated that the tigers at Vuon Xoai zoo had been fed with chicken feed before they died.

"It is likely that the tigers were infected by diseased chickens. Authorities are tracing the source of the chickens to determine the cause," Phuc said in a statement. A specialized team is disposing of the carcasses.

The H5N1 virus, also known as bird flu, is the deadliest strain of avian influenza and is currently causing significant damage worldwide. Outbreaks have been reported on every continental landmass.

In recent years, a number of people in the US have been infected with the virus, most of whom had close contact with animals due to their work. Finland became the first country to vaccinate people against bird flu as a precautionary measure.