NEW DELHI: The committee constituted by Centre to monitor the avian flu situation today said no death of birds have been reported from Delhi or Gwalior zoos in the last 24 hours even as the Union Health Ministry issued a health alert to states seeking to minimise the bird-human interface to prevent outbreak of bird flu.
The three member committee which was set by the Union Environment Ministry to monitor the avian flu situation in its review today said that scientists from National Institute of Virology in Pune have visited the zoos and collected samples. The committee said that there has been no reports of any deaths of birds in the last 24 hours from National Zoological Park and Deer Park in New Delhi and Gwalior Zoo.
"Pelicans kept with the painted storks in Gandhi Zoological Park in Gwalior have been kept in quarantine and all of them are in good health. The samples from other birds of Gwalior zoo were sent to the National Institute for High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal. The report of the same is still awaited," an official statement said. Acting on reports of mortality among the birds, in the Delhi NCR region and other parts of the country due to H5 Avian Influenza Virus, Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave had constituted a monitoring committee.
The committee comprises of member secretary of Central Zoo Authority, director National Zoological Park and deputy Inspector General of Forest (Widlife). The memorial of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Shakti Sthal, had to be closed in the national capital today as two more ducks succumbed to suspected avian influenza there, taking the toll in the national capital to 66. "A team of scientists from National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR Institute) visited the zoo today and collected samples," the statement said.
The committee had yesterday said that six painted storks and two ducks had died of birdflu at Gwalior zoo and Deer Park in Delhi respectively. The statement said that there has been continued surveillance and the zoos are being screened regularly for any dead bird while bio-security measures are being strictly enforced.
"Mortality Status within 24 hours - National Zoological Park in New Delhi - nil, deer park in Hauz Khas in New Delhi - nil and Gwalior zoo - nil," the statement said. "National Zoological Park, Delhi, Gandhi Zoological Park, Gwalior and AN Jha Deer Park, Hauz Khas, Delhi remained closed for the safety of visitors and control of the disease.
The statement said that there has been continued surveillance and the zoos are being screened regularly for any dead bird while bio-security measures are being strictly enforced. "A team of doctors from Animal Husbandry Department visited Delhi Zoo for monitoring.
A medical doctor visited and examined exposed employees of the zoo and medication was provided," the statement said. The Union Health Ministry also issued a health alert to states seeking to minimise the bird-human interface to prevent an outbreak of bird flu.