The Environment Ministry on Saturday formed a three-member committee to keep a close watch on the bird flu situation which has so far killed 24 birds in the national Capital and 15 in Madhya Pradesh.
A series of tweets by the Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave said a constant vigil is being kept around the National Zoological Parks to monitor and contain the H5 avian influenza along with the State agencies.
The Delhi Government has shut the Hauz Khas Deer Park amid bird flu scare. It has also cancelled leaves of all officials of Delhi Animal Husbandry Department. However, it has ruled out any threat to human beings due to the bird flu because the strain of the virus is “less infective “. Twenty-four birds have died at different places, including 11 ducks at the Deer Park since October 14.
Further, analysis of samples collected from two of the 15 painted storks that died in the Gandhi Zoological Park in Gwalior recently, revealed the birds were infected with a new avian flu virus subtype, H5N8. The investigation was done by the High Security Animal Disease laboratory in Bhopal. The zoo currently has about 300 birds belonging to various species.
The step taken by the Environment Ministry comes after the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries at the Centre confirmed of the detection of the new bird flu virus sub type in Gwalior Zoo.It also asked the Environment Ministry to issue advisories to all wildlife/bird sanctuaries in the country.
The staffs working in the zoo have been provided with gloves and administered with Tamiflu a medication that prevents flu. The zoos are also being regularly sprayed with disinfectants The Gwalior Zoo has been closed for visitors in the present situation.
A close watch is also being kept on the poultry farms and birds around the zoo. Further, in view of transportation of poultry and related products between Rajasthan and Delhi, the Rajasthan Government has also issued necessary directions to the field officers and asked them to take precautionary measures to check its likely outbreak in the State.