Some zoos in India closed for a week due to bird flu risk
Following the detection of the bird flu virus in the carcass of a tiger that died at a zoo in India's Uttar Pradesh state, zoos in the cities of Lucknow and Kanpur have been closed to visitors for one week.
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According to a report by the Hindustan Times, India's National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) announced that the "H5N1" strain of the bird flu virus was detected in a tiger that died on May 7 at the zoo in the city of Gorakhpur, in Uttar Pradesh state.
Uttar Pradesh State Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Arun Kumar Saxena stated that zoos in the cities of Lucknow and Kanpur have been closed to visitors for one week to prevent the spread of the virus in zoos and poultry farms.
Stating that the safety of animals and birds in areas such as zoos and national parks is the top priority, Saxena called on all officials to act in accordance with government guidelines.
Yesterday, zoos in the cities of Gorakhpur and Etawah in the state were also closed to visitors for one week.