New Delhi zoo has temporarily closed after two birds died of bird flu, its curator said yesterday, a month after India declared itself free of the disease.
Riaz Khan said tests had confirmed the birds died of the H5 strain of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu.
“We have shut the zoo down only for two to four days to conduct tests and monitor the situation to see it does not spread,” Khan said.
He said a total of nine birds, including ducks, pelicans and painted storks, have died in recent days but only two were confirmed as having had avian flu.
“But in any case, the zoo has been closed as a precautionary measure and will reopen in a few days,” he said.
Only masked staff members were being allowed in, as the complex had been quarantined.
Zoo staff are also being vaccinated.
The closure comes a month after India announced the country was bird flu-free, saying there had been no reports of an outbreak since May when more than 100,000 chickens were ordered to be culled in Karnataka.
The zoo was in the spotlight in May after 46 spotted deer reportedly died of rabies.
In 2012, it had to close the rhinoceros enclosure after one of them died of suspected anthrax.
But samples later tested negative.
The zoo, one of the largest in India, has some 1,400 animals, reptiles and birds belonging to around 130 species. It gets about 2.2mn visitors annually.
Meanwhile, Delhi Development Minister Gopal Rai said the government was taking all necessary measures to check the threat of bird flu.
“There have been some deaths of migratory birds reported due to H5 virus in Delhi Zoo. But there is no alarming situation. The government is taking immediate pre-emptive actions,” Rai said.
His remarks came after he visited the zoo.
Rai said six rapid response teams have been formed and sent to possible spots from where the influenza virus can spread in the city including bird sanctuaries and poultry markets.
“Teams have been sent to Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Nizamuddin (where sale and purchase of poultry happens), Yamuna Biodiversity Park, Najafgarh drain and Ghazipur poultry market,” Rai said.
“One such team has been posted in the Delhi Zoo to consistently monitor the situation.”
The Delhi government has also started a helpline number (011-23890318) to report cases of bird flu and seek help.
Bird flu affects mainly the domestic poultry. The disease spreads from infected birds to other winged creatures through contact with nasal and respiratory secretions and also due to contamination of feed and water.
Most strains of bird flu do not usually infect humans, according to the World Health Organisation.
But the H5 strain of the virus - found in the zoo’s birds - can cause fever, cough, sore throat, pneumonia, respiratory disease and sometimes death.