Fresh birds die in Deer Park, govt issues health advisory

The situation of bird flu remained grim in the city with the death toll of birds rising to 64, including six fresh deaths in Deer Park and Shakti Sthal, thus forcing the Development Minister Gopal Rai to cancel his Goa visit starting Tuesday.

While the minister earlier said the strain of virus was not dangerous for humans, the government in a sudden move issued an advisory on the use of poultry products and stay away from sick looking birds in a bid to maintain vigilance.

“We have issued a health advisory as we need to increase the vigil. These would include avoiding direct contact with bird secretions, cleaning all feeders, waterers, cages used for birds with detergents (soap/surf), disposing all the slaughter waste properly, refraining from touching dead birds with naked birds.

“People are advised to wash hands while dealing with raw poultry products, using masks and gloves at the time of dealing with raw chicken and chicken product and eat completely cooked meat and meat products,” Gopal Rai said on Monday.

According to official figures, as many as 17 birds were found dead on Saturday, 10 birds on Sunday and two birds on Monday in the lake at Hauz Khas Park. Four fresh deaths were reported from Shakti Sthal on Monday, taking the toll to 64.

The minister also suggested avoiding the consumption of uncooked chicken and eggs, preventing exposure from sick looking chicken and not keeping raw meet near the cooked one.

He said, the report received from the central lab in Bhopal, confirmed the presence of H5N8 virus among the dead birds.

 “Infection of H5N8 avian influenza has been confirmed from the two samples. These samples were taken from dead birds found in Deer Park and Sundar Nagar (near the zoo) last week,” Rai said.

Directions were also issued to the various departments maintaining water bodies. The decision was taken after a meeting of the officials of Revenue, Health, Environment, DDA, Delhi Zoo, MCDs, NDMC, PWD and CPWD.

“A mandatory has been issued to all the departments which have water bodies under them. A 4-feet thick layer of lime is to be laid around the waterbodies. All the departments have been instructed to spray Sodium Hypocholride (an anti-virus spray) on all the birds to control the infection. Additionally, multi-vitamin would be given to birds with the grains which are used to fed them,” Rai said.

Alongside, 12 Rapid Response Teams with members of the three MCDs have been constituted, he said, adding, a National Team of Virology from Pune would come to inspect the situation.

Rai said he would meet Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Tuesday and request him to expedite the reports coming from the central labs.