Mexico Zoo Destroys 114 Birds Due to Avian Virus

TSEELIM, ISRAEL - OCTOBER 27: A worker tries to catch 4-month-old ostrich chicks for vaccination against influenza and Newcastle disease at the Van Grevenbroek family farm October 27, 2005 at Tseelim, Southern Israel. The farm, where some 10,000 birds are bred annually and slaughtered at the age of one year for their skin, feathers and meat, is the only one of its kind in Israel that exports almost all of its production to Europe, and is threatened with the loss of its international markets if the H5N1 Avian Flu virus strikes Israel. (Photo by David Silverman/Getty Images) (2005 Getty Images)

It started as an unexplained incident involving the sudden death of nearly a dozen peacocks in a Mexico Zoo, now but now it has resulted in the euthanization of 114 peacocks, ostriches and other birds due to an avian virus.

Wilfrido Najera Lomeli said Thursday that department officials detected the presence of Newcastle Disease and destroyed the birds.

They also included ducks, guinea fowl, pheasants, piegons, parrots and parakeets. Some were threatened species.

The zoo in the Guerrero state capital of Chilpancingo was temporarily closed while officials continue their investigation.

The virus can infect people, but it is not lethal to humans.

The Associated Press contributed to this content.