Avian influenza has impacted both bird species and large felines at the Wildlife World Zoo in Maricopa County, AZ.  Fatalities include a cheetah and a puma with a white tiger undergoing treatment.  An Indian goose and a kookaburra have died of the infection.

Zoo management has attempted to isolate affected birds and mammals and is maintaining comprehensive veterinary surveillance to detect and then treat affected mammals. 

There appears to be no immediate risk to visitors to the zoo although some activities involving direct contact with animals have been cancelled.  Staff are now using PPE for protection.

It is hoped that infection, in all probability introduced by wild birds, will not take a heavy toll on the collection.  It is noted that extensive loss of large felines has occurred in various Asian nations including tigers in zoos in both Thailand and Vietnam.