Rare Chlamydia abortus linked to puffin deaths at Point Defiance Zoo, officials say
Follow-up results confirm three tufted puffins at Point Defiance Zoo died from a rare avian Chlamydia abortus infection, not avian psittacosis. No additional infected birds have been identified, environmental testing found no bacteria in early August, and public health risk remains low. The zoo is expanding environmental testing and monitoring with the puffin habitat set to reopen only when staff can confirm it's safe.