Arizona Zoo Animals Test Positive for Bird Flu and Other Animal News

Animals at Arizona Zoo Test Positive for Bird Flu

Five animals died after exposure to bird flu at Arizona’s Wildlife World Zoo. The five fatalities include a cheetah, Andean goose, mountain lion, kookaburra, and swamphen. One tiger was also infected but recovered from the illness. Approximately 25 staff members had direct contact with bird flu at the zoo.

Luckily, no staff members showed symptoms of having contracted the illness. The zoo staff expressed gratitude for only losing five animals and mourned their passing. Wildlife World Zoo believes the bird flu has run its course at the facility and will no longer spread. Additionally, no high-risk individuals developed symptoms of bird flu, making the spread mostly exclusive to animals. Find out more about bird flu here.

Holiday Animal Fundraiser Run Out of Home Features Incredible Light Display

A couple in Staten Island has once again created a spectacular light display to celebrate the holiday season. The display is only one facet of John and Mindy Sorrentino’s animal fundraiser, named Lacey’s Fur-Get Me Not Holiday Fundraiser, after their former dog, Lacey.

Booths located throughout the light display feature different characters from famous animated children’s media, including Mickey Mouse and the minions from Despicable Me. Donations toward the fundraiser are optional and will go to rescues, shelters, and animal welfare organizations around Staten Island, including the Staten Island Council for Animal Welfare. The fundraiser will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on December 14, 15, 21, and 22.

New Gene Therapy Could Reverse Progressive Heart Failure

University of Utah Health researchers have begun a new gene therapy technique to reduce heart failure. The team injected a vital heart protein into pigs experiencing heart failure. All the pigs that underwent therapy survived the experimentation. Meanwhile, pigs with heart failure that did not undergo therapy died after a few months. Find out more about the possibilities for gene therapy treatment here.