Skopje, 19 October 2024 (MIA) -- Following the death of a goose in the Skopje Zoo's pond and on suspicion of infection with avian influenza, the dead bird was tested at the Skopje Faculty of Veterinary Medicine lab and results confirmed the presence of the H5N1 bird flu virus strain, the Food and Veterinary Agency said in a press release following the closure of the Skopje Zoo earlier on Saturday. The Zoo will be closed over the next 21 days, the FVA said.

"A competent official veterinarian carried out an inspection in the Zoo and ordered measures to monitor the disease. The following types of birds were humanely killed and harmlessly disposed of: 24 ducks, 6 geese, 5 chickens, and one jackdaw present at the site," the FVA said. 

The measures were ordered under the Law on Veterinary Health and official guidelines for avian influenza control.

The FVA said that to suppress the disease and prevent its spread outside the zoo in animals and in humans, moving animals into or out of the zoo has been banned while examination of other birds in the zoo was ongoing. 

In line with FVA orders, biosecurity measures will be increased over the next three weeks and the Skopje Zoo will be closed to visitors during this time.

Previously, highly pathogenic bird flu cases were found in 2022, in Gradec, Leski and Vinica, Selce in the municipality of Shtip and near Zlokukjani in the municipality of Karposh, the FVA said.

According to an Oct. 18, 2024, press release from the CDC, the United States is dealing with a public health challenge posed by a multistate outbreak of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus, or "H5N1 bird flu," in dairy cows, poultry and other animals nationwide.

People have been infected as well. "Since April 2024, CDC, working with state public health departments, has confirmed avian influenza A(H5) infections in 27 people in the United States," the release said. mr/