COLUMBUS - A red-tailed hawk has become the first animal at the Columbus Zoo to die of West Nile virus.

        In addition, the zoo announced Friday that two flamingos and an Andean condor have tested positive for the virus. Another flamingo and three black-footed penguins are displaying signs of the illness.

        Zoo spokeswoman Patty Peters said little can be done to stop the virus from spreading in the zoo's bird population.

        “We knew it was going to happen,” she said. “All the zoos around us have had it.”

        The virus is spread when a mosquito that has fed on an infected bird bites another animal.

        Nationwide, at least 28 people have died from the virus this year. West Nile is suspected in the deaths of four Ohioans.

        Crows and blue jays were the first birds in the state to die from the virus. During the past two weeks, it has killed dozens of great horned owls and red-tailed hawks.

        No cure for the virus has been found for humans or animals.

        The zoo recently inoculated its equine species with a vaccine to protect against the virus.

        Although some zoos also have inoculated their bird collections, Columbus did not. Ms. Peters said the vaccine is not known to protect birds.

        Michael Barrie, the zoo's chief veterinarian, said catching and vaccinating birds is stressful to the animals. “You have to weigh the potential advantage with the stress you've caused,” he said. “The flamingos, for example, tend to run and crash when you try to catch them.”

        He said the condor and one of the flamingos seem to be recovering.

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