NEW DELHI: The Red Fort here has been closed for public till January 26 after one of the samples collected from dead birds at the historical site was tested positive for bird flu. Around 15 crows were found dead in the premises of Red Fort on January 10.
A sample from a dead bird was sent to a Jalandhar-based laboratory for testing, Rakesh Singh, the director of the Delhi government’s animal husbandry department, said. “The report suggested bird flu. A confirmatory test at the National Institute of High Security Animal Disease, ICAR, Bhopal confirmed the presence of H5N1 strain of avian influenza,” he said.
The entry of public into the monument has been restricted till January 26 as a precautionary measure, Singh said. “As per the action plan of animal husbandry department for control and containment of avian influenza, the Red Fort comes under alert zone and infected area,” the department said in an order.
The Delhi government has been keeping a watch on reports of bird deaths, Singh said, adding that cases are going down but the department continues surveillance at probable hotspots. Earlier, a dead owl from Delhi Zoological Park had tested positive for avian influenza, and the Zoo has been put on the list of hot spots.
As a precautionary measure, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had ordered closure of Asia’s largest chicken market in Ghazipur, but all 100 samples lifted from the market last week had tested negative for bird flu. Now the market has been allowed to reopen. Municipal corporations in the city had also imposed a temporary ban on sale and storage of poultry or processed chicken meat. However, the ban was lifted later after all the 100 samples taken from Ghazipur, Asia’s largest poultry market, tested negative.
ASI too issues order to close the Fort till Jan 26
The Archeological Survey of India (ASI), which has the administrative power over the Red Fort, has also ordered its closure till January 26 keeping in mind the bird flu alert. The Delhi government is also keeping a watch on reports of bird deaths. Earlier, a dead owl from Delhi Zoological Park had tested positive for avian influenza, and the Zoo has been put on the list of hot spots, as per the action plan of animal husbandry department