Bird flu outbreak confirmed at Paignton Zoo

A zoo in Devon which closed because of a suspected case of bird flu has had positive results for the virus.

Paignton Zoo was shut after a dead pelican was found on Sunday. It was tested to see if it had died from the highly infectious H5N1 strain.

The zoo said it could "unfortunately confirm that test results have come back as positive".

It added that the welfare of its birds was its priority and staff were working to ensure their safety.

The government's Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) said on its website that "highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed on 29 August in captive wild birds (non-poultry) at a premises near Paignton, Torbay, Devon".

It added: "A 3km [1.8-mile] Captive Bird (Monitoring) Controlled Zone has been put in place around the premises. Affected birds will be humanely culled."

The zoo said staff were working alongside the APHA and its vets "to plan and implement the necessary biosecurity and quarantine measures and to safeguard our birds".

It confirmed it was "currently under a restriction notice, which will remain in place until revoked by APHA".

It said: "This means that we will remain closed until and including Thursday 1 September at the earliest."

Anyone who had booked a visit while it was closed would be refunded, it added.

The H5N1 strain of the avian influenza virus is highly contagious among birds, and spreads by close contact with an infected bird, whether it is dead or alive.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' (Defra) website said the virus was "primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public's health is very low".

The zoo is among seven disease control zones in force in Devon.

There is also a 3km (1.8 mile) protection zone and 10km (6 mile) surveillance zone around a commercial premises near Cullompton, where avian flu was confirmed on Friday.

Similar zones are in place around two other commercial premises near Cullompton, as well as properties near Tiverton and Ashburton.

A surveillance zone is in place around a property in Dartington following successful disease control measures, the APHA and Defra said.

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