Bird flu: Three more bird deaths at zoo and Shakti Sthal, toll now 69

Shakti Sthal, along with Delhi zoo and Hauz Khas Deer Park, continue to remain shut even as the government is closely monitoring the Ghazipur chicken market for any sign of infection spreading among poultry.

Two more deaths were reported on Wednesday from Shakti Sthal while another bird died at the Delhi zoo, taking the total toll to 69, government officials said.

Shakti Sthal, along with Delhi zoo and Hauz Khas Deer Park, continue to remain shut even as the government is closely monitoring the Ghazipur chicken market for any sign of infection spreading among poultry. (PTI)

Shakti Sthal, along with Delhi zoo and Hauz Khas Deer Park, continue to remain shut even as the government is closely monitoring the Ghazipur chicken market for any sign of infection spreading among poultry.

“A grey partridge bird has been found dead at the National Zoological Park in New Delhi while two more ducks died at Shakti Sthal on Wednesday. A doctor examined exposed employees of the zoo and medication was provided to them. Reports for the samples sent to the National Institute for High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal are awaited,” a Delhi government animal husbandry department official told HT.

A team of scientists from National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune has already visited the Delhi zoo on Tuesday and collected samples, sensitised and trained zoo staff about biosecurity measures against avian influenza.

On bird flu situation in Delhi, the Centre, in a release, said it is providing full support to the state government to contain and control the disease incidence. Daily meetings are being held to advise the state governments in case of emergency.

The Delhi government on Monday issued an 11-point health advisory which asked people to avoid direct contact with bird secretions and carcasses, consume only completely cooked chicken and not to consume uncooked or half cooked chicken or half boiled or half fried eggs. Tests had earlier revealed the H5N8 virus, believed to be less virulent for humans, is killing birds, but strict measures are being considered to prevent people from catching the disease.

At the bird flu control room, most calls on Wednesday were regarding advice. “People are asking about the points in the health advisory. It says in case any pond or water body is near your mohalla or park, and is not being disinfected with lime, then inform the control room. We send our teams to these places,” an official said.

At Ghazipur murga mandi, officials are making sure that all trucks have healthy poultry. Apart from fumigation, special pits filled with water, potassium and slack lime have also been created at the entry gates to sanitise tyres of each truck.