Arizona Zoo Reports Bird Flu Outbreak, Killing Five Animals and Infecting Two Workers

A cheetah, mountain lion, and three birds died at Wildlife World Zoo, with two farm workers testing positive for H5N1 in separate incidents.

Wildlife World Zoo in Litchfield Park, Arizona, confirmed the deaths of a cheetah, mountain lion, and three birds due to H5N1 bird flu, with a white tiger also infected but recovering.
The zoo has quarantined exposed animals, restricted staff access, and suspended guest activities involving direct animal contact to contain the outbreak.
Two farm workers in Pinal County, Arizona, have tested positive for bird flu after exposure to infected poultry, marking the first human cases in the state.
Health officials emphasize that the risk of human-to-human transmission remains very low, with no such cases reported in the U.S. to date.
Arizona has detected bird flu at multiple locations, including a backyard poultry flock, a commercial farm, and wastewater facilities, with increased monitoring and testing underway.