In a bid to curb avian flu, Animal Husbandry Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday wrote to all MlAs, councillors and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), asking them to follow the health advisory issued by the Delhi Government.
Meanwhile, a bird flu monitoring team visited the lake behind Players’ building to check whether ducks in the lake are infected or not.
In a related development, the Union Government also constituted a committee headed by the Joint Commissioner, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries (DADF) to maintain a constant vigil on the situation arising out of avian influenza (H5N8).
"The committee will have representatives from Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and Department of Agriculture Research and Extension (DARE) and representative of the Delhi Government. Besides, monitoring the situation, the committee will assist the State Government in taking steps to contain the spread of Avian Influenza," stated National High Security lab for animal diseases
(NIHSAD).
Dr Munialappa, Joint Commissioner said the Centre has issued an advisory to all the State Governments. "All bird sanctuaries and areas where there are lakes, have been advised to keep a close watch on the situation and in case of any suspicious death of birds, the State Government and the Centre may be notified," said the Commissioner. "The transmission of H5N8 virus is very low. Also there will be no trade impact of the incidence as per global OIE criteria," he said.
According to NIHSAD no further test results are presently required by Delhi Government to continue with its bio-security measures for implementing the National Action Plan for Control and Containment of the Avian Influenza, 2015 guidelines.