H5N1 bird flu closes Islamabad zoo

Authorities closed a zoo in Pakistan’s capital today after the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu was found in its peacocks and geese.

Laboratory tests confirmed four peacocks and at least two geese at the Islamabad zoo had contracted the disease, said Mohammed Afzal, a spokesman for the Agriculture Ministry.

Mr Afzal said the infected birds would be killed and buried. Tests on the zoo’s staff showed none were infected with the virus, he said.

Bird flu predominantly affects animals, but the H5N1 virus has also made the jump to humans, killing at least 167 people worldwide since 2003, according to the World Health Organisation.

Pakistan’s poultry industry was badly hit by the disease in 2006, when thousands of farmers across the country had to slaughter their flocks to try to prevent its spread. Prices of eggs and chicken fell as people switched to beef and mutton.

Three other cases of H5N1 were reported earlier this month – in domestic chickens in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, and in peacocks near the north-western city of Mansehra. However, there have been no reports of bird flu in commercial poultry so far this year.

Islamabad zoo director Raja Javed said H5N1 was detected after samples from 15 birds which had died were sent to the National Institute of Health for tests.

The small zoo, which houses more than 200 other birds as well as animals including elephants and monkeys, will be closed to the public for three days while workers vaccinate birds and spray the area with disinfectant, he said.