SF Gate The San Francisco Zoo is keeping some animals out of sight, hoping to protect them as cases of bird flu are found in the Bay Area. The zoo announced on Dec. 10 that the African Aviary and South American Tropical Rainforest & Aviary are closed to guests as “extra precautionary measures due to the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza.” HPAI, known colloquially as the bird flu, is an avian virus found in wild aquatic birds like geese, gulls and ducks. It can spread to other birds, including domestic poultry, via saliva, feces and other secretions. It’s highly contagious and often fatal. It can also infect humans and cause severe respiratory issues, but it’s rarely spread person-to-person and most symptoms are mild.
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