Six painted stork & two ducks die of birdflu

Six painted storks and two ducks died of birdflu at Gwalior zoo and Deer Park in Delhi respectively in the last 24 hours, the three member committee formed by the Union Environment Ministry to monitor the avian flu situation today said.

The three member committee which reviewed the control and containment of the avian influenza situation said control and containment measures in the affected zoos are being continued.

"The Monitoring Committee constituted by the Environment Ministry overseeing outbreak of H5N8 avian influenza, reviewed the control and containment of the avian influenza situation today.

"Mortality Status within 24 hours - National Zoological Park in New Delhi - nil, Deer Park in Hauz Khas in New Delhi - two ducks and Gwalior zoo - six painted storks," 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 for overseeing outbreak.

The committee comprises of member secretary of Central Zoo Authority, director National Zoological Park and deputy Inspector General of Forest (Widlife).

"The control and containment measures of avian influenza in the affected zoos are being continued, which include surveillance and screening of zoo regularly for any dead bird, enforcing bio-security measures strictly and closing of zoo for safety of visitors and control of the disease," the statement added.

It said that a team of doctors from Animal Husbandry department visited Delhi Zoo for monitoring while a team of medical doctors visited and examined exposed employees of the zoo and medication was provided.

Delhi Animal Husbandry minister Gopal Rai today said that the total number of suspected avian deaths stood at around 64 in Delhi.

Rai had yesterday said that the three crows, that were found dead in the Sunder Nagar area, had succumbed to the H5N8 avial influenza strain.