Panic has spread in the National Zoological Park in the national Capital following reports that 39 spotted deer have died in the zoo since February 11. While 17 spotted deer are said to have died due to rabies, others reportedly lost their lives due to pleurisy, enteritis, shock and infighting.
The spread of the rabies, whose first case was detected on March 5, not only poses a major threat to other animals, but also to about 8,000 to 10,000 visitors who frequent the zoo every day, said experts.
The Delhi zoo has written to the Ministry of Environment and Forest about the dreaded rabies and said the rabies have just gone out of hand and needs urgent measures to control it.
The zoo has around 120 spotted deer. The suspected rabies outbreak surfaced on February 14 after drain water swamped the deer enclosure. When two of the animals died, officials assumed they drank contaminated water. But soon other deer started falling ill, with at least one of them frothing at the mouth. Samples of dead animal were sent to the IVRI which confirmed death due to rabies virus.
In a letter to Ministry of Environment and Forest, director of National Zoological Park, Amitabh Agnihotri has said as the mortality continues unabated it is now a case of serious concern because the source of rabies could not be identified despite best efforts and they are clueless as to how and why the disease is spreading on such a large scale among animals that do not bite each other.
The director said despite a series of measures taken to prevent the further spread of the rabies, animals had started dying in quick succession which was rather unusual and rare. The letter said, “So far, 39 animals have died since February 16, out of which 17 have been confirmed to have died because of rabies.”
“The pattern of mortality assuming epidemiology proportions among animals because of rabies is rather unusual and rare. So far as we have no answers and this requires a detailed examination to find out as to what exactly is happening as the situation cannot be allowed to continue like this,” Agnihotri said.
According to letter, the Delhi Zoo is visited by 8,000 to 10,000 people daily and now it is becoming a serious public health issue also. Out of 39 deaths, 17 died of rabies, 10 died of traumatic shock and stress. Three died of Enterities, one died of injury while other died of pleurisy. Two deer died of infighting while reports on six deaths are still awaited.
The zoo authorities have requested a team of expert from the National Centre for Disease Control to control the situation and guide them in carrying out measures not only to prevent mortality among the animals of the zoo but also to safeguard general public interests against the Zoonotic disease.
“Alarmed from with the increase in mortality of the animals, experts advice was sought from IVRI, NCDC and WII. The prophylactic vaccination of the entire spotted deer population against rabies has been started on April 22. However, the opinion for prophylactic vaccination of animals’ remains divided over the rationales and effectiveness of vaccination of animals and 14 animals have been vaccinated so far. The vaccinated animals are being segregated from the general population for better care.”
“A team of experts from IVRI visited National Zoological Park on May 10 to assess the situation on the ground. However, the source of infection could not be ascertained despite best efforts. The recommendations of the experts of IVRI are also being followed to check the outbreak of rabies,” the letter said.
On its part, the Central Zoo Authority has also suggested the zoo authority to take a series of other measures to prevent the spread of the disease. In a letter to the zoo director, CZA member secretary DN Singh said boulders placed at the base of trees in paddock of the enclosures should be removed as there existed a chance of it being a hideout for rodents.
“Foot bath at the entrance of the enclosure be regularly filled with appropriate concentration of the disinfectant. Bushes on back side of the enclosure towards the Railway lines adjacent to the chain-link fence should be cleared. Retiring cells be cleared thoroughly and walls be whitewashed with lime. All staff involved with upkeep and management should be vaccinated for rabies,” Singh said.