HANOI, OCT 3 – Two samples taken from tiger carcasses in southern Vietnam have been confirmed positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus, according to local media reports.
Since early September, 20 tigers and one leopard have been reported dead in the Mango Garden eco-tourism area, in Dong Nai province.
The animals refused to eat, showed signs of fatigue and fever after eating chicken meat and chicken heads supplied by a local company, reported Vietnam News Agency.
The head of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Department at the Dong Nai Disease Control Center, Phan Van Phuc, said it was most likely that the tigers were infected with the H5N1 virus from contaminated chicken meat.
“The authorities are now tracking the source of the contaminated chicken to identify the source of the infection,” he said.
The zoo area has been sanitized and the tiger zone isolated to prevent further contagion, reports said VnExpress.
The authorities have also ordered the resort to limit the entry of visitors and monitor the health of 30 individuals who had close contact with infected animals. – Xinhua
