Bird flu outbreak: Delhi urges central labs to hurry up with test results

After meeting the Union Agriculture Minister, under whom the central animal husbandry department comes, on Tuesday evening, Rai said: “I requested the minister to urge the central laboratory in Bhopal and the regional one in Jalandhar to speed up the process of sending tests results of samples sent to it.”

The Delhi government said in a statement on Tuesday that it has sent 85 samples to the laboratories in Jalandhar and Bhopal, both of which come under the jurisdiction of the central government, since October 14. The labs have sent results of only 27 samples so far, the statement said.

Rai also said that he requested Radha Mohan Singh to issue a national advisory so that people take the appeal for precautions more seriously and on a nationwide basis, since there have been reports of the H5N8 flu outbreak in birds in other states such as Madhya Pradesh.

The Centre, meanwhile, issued a health advisory to Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territories. Health Secretary C K Mishra issued a note on precautions to be taken to prevent an outbreak and offered central assistance, if needed.

Rai, along with Delhi government officials, also inspected the Shakti Sthal grounds near Rajghat, where two more birds were found dead on Tuesday, taking the count to 67 in the city and six at Shakti Sthal.

Meanwhile, Animal Husbandry Secretary Devendra Chaudhary said the outbreak would have no impact on poultry trade.