Bird flu death toll rises to 15 at zoo in Delhi, more samples test positive

During surveillance a carcass of migratory painted stork was found by the team near a pond. A painted stork in the water bird aviary was found sick and was shifted to a bird isolation ward for treatment and observation and died later during the day. A black necked ibis too died on Monday, said officials. The carcass of the dead migratory painted stork and swab samples collected from sick birds have been sent for lab screening, said officials.

Further, samples of migratory painted storks from the pond area that were sent for test on Saturday were declared as positive for H5N1 influenza virus, by the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal.

Emergency meet

Senior zoo officials also said that a team from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) would be visiting the zoo on Tuesday for screening the zoo staff to ensure that they are unaffected by the outbreak.

“Thorough cleaning and disinfection with virucide in animal houses and bird areas are being done twice a day. An emergency virtual meeting of the National Zoological Park’s Health Advisory Committee comprising experts from IVRI, Izatnagar and veterinary colleges of Hisar and Mathura has been called for discussions on further steps to contain the infection at the earliest to protest precious animals and zoo workers,” said Dr Kumar.

The surveillance staffers have been tasked with surveying the entire premise twice a day. Intensive cleaning and disinfection of enclosures, water ponds, and the foraging ground of migratory birds are also underway.

Earlier on Sunday, three painted storks and one black-necked ibis were segregated from the aviary for treatment and observation.

Officials had informed that animal health and behaviour were being closely monitored by zoo-keepers using CCTV surveillance. They said all staffers at the zoo have been equipped with protective gear like gloves, mask, suits, shoe covers, as per the Central Zoo Authority protocol.