Penguins fighting Malaria in London

[Greywings]

Six penguins have died following an outbreak of malaria at London Zoo.

 

The birds contracted the avian strain of the disease from mosquitoes and died in August.

 

Zookeepers had increased the birds' anti-malaria medication due to fears that the wet weather would let the insects thrive.

 

Avian malaria cannot be passed on to humans, nor can it be passed from bird to bird, and the zoo says the remaining penguins are "healthy and well".

 

A spokeswoman for London Zoo said avian malaria is "endemic" in the UK's wild bird population.

 

Preventative measures, including anti-malaria medicine were in place on a daily basis to prevent this "very sad occasion" from happening again, she added.