Sedgwick County Zoo closes bird exhibits after positive bird flu test in Hutchinson

Exhibits for penguins and other birds at the Sedgwick County Zoo are being closed after a wild bird being rehabilitated at the Hutchinson Zoo tested positive for the bird flu, Sedgwick County Zoo spokesperson Jennica King said Tuesday.

This is the second time this year. The zoo closed its bird exhibits after a bird tested positive for avian influenza, or bird flu, in March. The bird flu is carried mainly by migratory waterfowl, King said in a news release.

The zoo is also taking some other precautions: moving many birds into indoor exhibits, modifying exhibits to prevent birds from being in contact with wild birds, and having staff wear masks while working with the birds.

“Additionally, the Zoo has halted the sale of fish food available to guests in an effort to encourage wild waterfowl to forage elsewhere,” King said.

It’s unclear how long the precautions will be in place. King said the bird exhibits that closed March 9 reopened on June 3. She said it takes 30 days of no confirmed cases in the area before they start to ease restrictions.

Before this year, the zoo hadn’t had to close the bird exhibits because of the flu in at least five years. Closing the exhibits twice in a year is very rare, she said. Peacocks are so susceptible to carrying the virus that the zoo got rid of its peacock exhibit in either 2014 or 2015, she said.

The bird flu can be deadly for birds, especially domestic chickens, the CDC says. The CDC also says bird flu “usually (does) not infect people.”