The Associated Press
AUSTIN — Natural causes were to blame for the deaths of 63 birds found dead in downtown Austin last week, briefly sparking fears of a public health threat, a scientist said Thursday.
Three aviary pathologists at Texas A&M University independently concluded that parasites and a 10-degree drop in temperature killed the birds, said Dr. Lelve G. Gayle, the executive director of the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.
“We eliminated our biggest concern: that there was a toxin or something that might be transmitted to humans,” Gayle said. “We found no evidence that anyone should be concerned about a public health issue.”
Police shut down a 10-block stretch of Congress Avenue for several hours after the dead birds were found the morning of Jan. 8. Dozens of fire trucks, police cars and ambulances gathered and emergency workers donned yellow hazardous-material suits until the street was eventually reopened.