Penguins back outside as bird flu precautions loosen

ROCHESTER N.Y. (WHEC) — The penguins are back outside at the Seneca Park Zoo.

Zoo officials moved the penguins inside in March to protect them from the bird flu, the virus detected in Monroe County that’s extremely contagious to a variety of bird species but rarely to humans.

A Facebook Post on Wednesday from the zoo said they will continue to monitor bird flu cases and will reassess according. They will also disinfect the penguins’ habitat every morning.

New York State has banned all outdoor showcases that involve fowl birds on March 25 as a bird flu precaution. The Monroe County Health Department announced on April 1 that they detected the county’s first bird flu case in a flock of backyard chickens, ducks, and pheasants.