PHNOM PENH - Veterinarians have raised the alarm over the H5N1 virus or bird flu after 44 tigers, three lions, and a leopard died in two zoos in Ho Chi Minh City last month.
The VN Express reported that tigers at the Mango Garden Tourist Area in Dong Nai Province and My Quynh Zoo in Long An Province suffered from fatigue and weakness before their deaths.
Both zoos are located in Southern Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City.
"Veterinary officials from the Regional Animal Health Office No.6, which oversees HCMC (Ho Chi Minh City) and nearby provinces, conducted clinical examinations and autopsied two deceased Bengal tigers.
"Preliminary diagnoses suggest the tigers had died from pneumonia,” reported the online newspaper.
Seventeen tigers, including cubs, and one leopard died in the Mango Garden in September.
And, 27 tigers and three lions died at the My Quynh Zoo between August and 16 September, said VN Express.
Health officials are vigilant and working on preventing potential transmission to humans after they found at least 30 people had contact with the tigers. All of them reported to be in good health.
The H5N1 variant or bird flu can threaten migratory birds and domestic poultry and spread to animals and humans. - BERNAMA