Avian Flu Scare in Delhi: 17 More Ducks Die in Deer Park

17 more ducks died on Saturday, October 22, 2016, due to bird flu in the now closed Deer Park in Delhi, the highest number so far in a day.

An avian flu scare has gripped Delhi. 17 more ducks died on Saturday, October 22, 2016, due to bird flu in the now closed Deer Park in Delhi, the highest number so far in a day.

Six birds had died on Friday, October 21, 2016. The Deer Park will remain shut until normalcy returns, authorities said.

Avian Influenza / Bird Flu-Causes-Symptoms-Treatment- FAQs
Bird flu (avian influenza/avian flu) is a disease caused by an influenza virus (H5N1) that primarily affects birds but can infect humans also.

‘17 more ducks died on Saturday, October 22, 2016, due to bird flu in the now closed Deer Park in Delhi, the highest number so far in a day.’

Delhi's Animal Husbandry Minister Gopal Rai has advised the authorities to "deep bury" the carcasses and undertake necessary disinfection processes in the park.

Rai visited the Deer Park on Sunday, October 23, 2016, afternoon to take stock of the situation, a government statement said.

Earlier a rapid response team constituted by the Delhi government collected eight samples from live birds in the Ghazipur poultry market.

Six More Migratory Birds Die in Delhi Due To Bird Flu, Total Rises to 64
The anti-virus operation in the Deer Park in south Delhi was bearing results as only two bird deaths were reported there.

Apart from that, seven carcasses of birds were collected from different parts of Delhi on receipt of calls on the helpline set up by the Delhi government.

Rai had set up six rapid response teams to visit various places, including bird sanctuaries and poultry markets, to collect samples. He later increased the number of teams to 10.

Six More Birds Die in Delhi Due To Bird Flu
The virus strain found in the initial sample of birds was H5N8, which does not pose much risk to humans as H5N1, Delhi Animal Husbandry Minister Gopal Rai said.

All the samples will be sent to the central lab in Bhopal which had earlier confirmed that the virus strain found in the initial sample of birds was H5N8 avian influenza.

Rai had also visited Ghazipur poultry market and said that no indication of avian virus infection was found in the 2.2 lakh chickens that arrived in the market.

Response to Bird Flu Spread Boosted By China
To prevent the spread of H7N9 avian influenza, which has killed six people in the country, Shanghai's live poultry markets were shut on Saturday as it culled birds.

The first deaths of two migratory birds was reported on October 14, 2016, in Delhi Zoo, and six more birds were found dead the following day. One bird each died on October 17 and 19, 2016. On Thursday, eight more birds died in the city.

Source-IANS