Chicago zoo sees ‘beloved’ seal and baby flamingo die from bird flu as virus mutates
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As bird flu virus continues to spread in people, a Chicago zoo announced this week that two of its animals had died from infection,
A beloved seven-year-old harbor seal named “Slater” and a baby Chilean flamingo named “Teal” died last week from bird flu, the Lincoln Park Zoo reported Tuesday.
“This is sad news for wildlife and for the zoo team. Not only are we facing the first known cases of [bird flu] in animals in our care, but we’ve lost two amazing animals,” Director of Veterinary Services Dr. Kathryn Gamble said in a news release. “While highly pathogenic avian influenza is a naturally occurring virus in free-ranging waterfowl, more mammal species have been reported to be susceptible to [bird flu] since 2022.”
While it remains unknown exactly how the animals were infected with the virus, the zoo said it was a near certainty that the cause was from contact with an infected waterfowl.
The zoo stressed that its visitors are not at risk of contracting the virus from their animals. Staff had been monitoring bird flu reports and enacted a response plan, including adding protective equipment, removing opportunities for cross contamination and monitoring for animal health or behavior changes.
The zoo’s McCormick Bird House will be closed until further notice.
“Because highly pathogenic avian influenza is spread by free-ranging birds, it is no riskier to visit Lincoln Park Zoo than to enjoy a walk outdoors,” said President and CEO Dr. Megan Ross assured. “The zoo remains a safe place to connect with the animals in our care.”
The deaths come as concerns have flared regarding cases in humans across the country. There have been 67 confirmed reported human cases and one death associated with H5N1 bird flu infection. The Louisiana patient who died, the nation’s first severe case, was over the age of 65 and had underlying medical conditions.
They had contracted the illness after exposure to wild birds and a non-commercial backyard flock. The virus had likely mutated inside the patient.
There has not yet been human-to-human transmission of the virus and health officials still say the risk to humans remains low. Most cases, many in dairy and farm workers, have been mild.
The Centers for Disease Control recently confirmed a case in a child in San Francisco. The child has since recovered.
On the same day that the zoo announced Slater and Teal’s deaths, Texas researchers said they had identified nine mutations in a bird flu strain found in a person..
The bad news, they said, was that the strain is more capable of causing disease. But, Texas Biomedical Research Institute noted, approved antiviral medications are still effective against the strain of bird flu.
“The clock is ticking for the virus to evolve to more easily infect and potentially transmit from human to human, which would be a concern,” Texas Biomed Professor Dr. Luis Martinez-Sobrido, said.
