Skopje, 19 October 2024 (MIA) -- The Skopje Zoo has been temporarily closed to visitors. According to a notice posted at the entrance earlier on Saturday, the reason for the closure are "technical operative works." According to media reports, however, the zoo may have been closed over suspicions of a bird flu outbreak.

"Dear visitors, due to technical and operative issues, the Zoo will not be open to the public on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. Thank you for your understanding," the notice says.

Food and Veterinary Agency sources told MIA that their inspectors had been sent to the zoo, where some technical procedures were under way. No reason was given for the FVA inspection.

There are unconfirmed reports of a bacterial infection found in geese or possibly an outbreak of a virus that can infect people.

In a Facebook post, former Zoo director Gjorgji Galetanovski said that "deadly bacteria" of "bird flu" was detected at the Zoo, and urged staff and recent visitors to watch out for symptoms.

Public Health Institute director Marija Andonova told MIA that the FVA had not asked for a team of epidemiologists to interview the zoo staff yet. This would happen, she said, in the case of a zoonosis, a disease caused by a pathogen transmitted to humans by infected animals.

"If needed, we are ready to conduct a field investigation," Andonova said. mr/