NEW DELHI: Starting Saturday, the Delhi Zoo will be closed to all visitors after officials confirmed that two painted storks died from the H5N1 bird flu virus, which is very dangerous. The zoo is closing as a safety measure to keep the disease from spreading to other birds, animals, or staff.
Zoo officials stated in a statement on Friday that samples from the two dead birds were sent to the National Institute for High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal on August 27. The results, which came in on August 28, showed that the H5N1 virus was present.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), avian influenza A(H5N1) is a form of the flu virus that mostly infects birds but can, in rare occasions, infect mammals, including people. The virus, which belongs to the goose/Guangdong family, initially appeared in 1996 and has subsequently caused many outbreaks in birds.
Zoo officials have quickly put in place containment procedures that follow the Centre’s 2021 “Action Plan for Preparedness, Control, and Containment of Avian Influenza.” This includes close monitoring and rigorous biosecurity rules all across the building. The zoo is closed for public health reasons and will stay that way until further notice.
The Delhi Zoo has had H5N1 outbreaks before, in 2016 and 2021. The zoo is now on high alert to watch all of its animals and staff for any signs of illness.