Grizzly bears, skunks among a dozen mammals infected with avian influenza in Montana

An outbreak of avian influenza in birds that has led to the death and culling of tens of thousands of domestic and wild birds in Montana, has also infected at least a dozen mammals, according to a report. 

Since the end of March, a black bear, two grizzly bears, a red fox, two raccoons, and six skunks have tested "non-negative" for the virus by the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks and the state Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, according to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. 

The samples are then sent to a national lab in Iowa to be confirmed as positive. 

Experts believe the mammals were infected after eating dead birds with avian flu. There’s no evidence it’s spreading from mammal to mammal.

ONGOING BIRD FLU HAS COST THE GOVERNMENT AROUND $661 MILLION, ADDED TO THE CONSUMERS' PAIN AT THE GROCERY STORE 

This comes as China reported the first known human death of the H3N8 subtype of avian influenza. The animals tested posthumously in Montana had the H5N1 strain. 

A few other people who worked closely with infected birds have been infected with the virus, but they have all recovered. 

Animals in other states have tested positive for the virus as the outbreak enters its second year, including mountain lions in California, a river otter in Wisconsin and bobcats in Colorado, according to the USDA. 

A dog in Canada was also infected and died, according to the Chronicle. 

The first case in a poultry flock in Montana occurred last April. The outbreak has killed 58 million birds so far across the country. 

Montana officials began testing animals thought to have rabies last fall after hearing of bird flu infections in mammals in other states.

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The symptoms for rabies and bird flu are clinically the same, clinical veterinary microbiologist Erika Schwarz, who works at the state lab, told the Chronicle.

"This outbreak and how long it’s persisted is unusual," she said. "It’s left a lot of scientists just baffled."

Jennifer Ramsey, a Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks veterinarian, said mammals being infected is "not something new," but during the last outbreak in 2014 and 2015 wild birds didn’t die, meaning mammals couldn’t eat their carcasses. 

"It’s not something new — mammals have been infected with avian influenza viruses in the past," Ramsey told the Chronicle. "We just haven’t dealt with it to this extent here before. It’s concerning."

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She reminded pet owners to keep their animals away from dead birds. 

Elizabeth Hurley stuns in an animal print bikini at 57

Elizabeth Hurley is embracing her wild side.

On Thursday, the 57-year-old actress took to Instagram to show off her incredible physique in an animal print bikini.

"Yay!! My favourite Cheetah Bikini is back in stock," she captioned the post of the two-piece, which is from the Elizabeth Hurley Swim line.

Hurley also shared a few selfies donning the swimwear as she smiled for the camera.

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ELIZABETH HURLEY, 56, REVEALS HER BIKINI BODY SECRETS, SAYS EXCESS PLASTIC SURGERY ‘IS NOT MY CUP OF TEA’

The "Gossip Girl" star paired the cheetah print, gold chain bikini with hoop earrings and a smokey eye look.

Instagram users were in full support of Hurley's latest post.

"Never seen a woman age so well," one user wrote, with another adding, "Getting younger and younger."

The "Austin Powers" actress doesn't shy away from sharing sexy pictures online.

In February, Hurley took to Instagram to model a new robe for her swimwear line, which she said was "limited edition." The last picture in Hurley's photo collage showed her opening the "floaty" beach robe and revealing a white string bikini.

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Hurley launched the London-based swimwear line in 2005.

"I decided to venture into beachwear not only because I’ve always been obsessed with vacation clothes, but also because it’s an area where women, regardless of shape or size, can either look amazing or really get it wrong. I wanted to develop resort collections, which make women feel fabulous at any age," she announced on the company’s site at the time.

Meanwhile, the "Bedazzled" star recently spilled her secrets about being confident.

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"Having a sense of achievement make us all feel better," the actress pointed out to Hello! Magazine in March.

With the success of her swimwear collection, Hurley additionally touched on the topic of her risqué bikini photos.

"I have a business to run and bikinis to sell. There's not that much more to it than that. If I sold cans of soup, you’d see an awful lot of pictures of me stirring pots at my stove," she said.

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