8 more birds dead; Deer Park shut down

​New Delhi: The city government shut down famous Hauz Khas Deer Park amid bird flu scare with death of eight more avians today in suspected cases of H5N1 influenza virus, even as leaves of all officials of Delhi Animal Husbandry Department has been cancelled.

With today's death of eight birds, two of them at the Deer Park, the suspected bird flu toll has gone upto 18 since Friday.

"At our helpline, eight bird deaths were reported today at four places which include two at Delhi Zoo, two at Deer Park, one at Tuglkabad area and death of three crows at Sundar Nagar," Development Minister Gopal Rai said. He said the samples of all dead birds have been sent to a laboratory in Jalandhar and the report is expected in next two-three days.

Of the 10 birds which had died till yesterday at Delhi Zoo since October 14, three have been confirmed as bird flu cases. The Delhi Zoo is already shut due to the bird flu scare.

The government has also cancelled leaves of all officials of Delhi Animal Husbandry Department and appealed the residents not to touch dead birds instead call its helpline number -(011-23890318) if they spot any.

Rai said the situation was not alarming and precautionary measures were being taken. The government has sent 50 samples including 20 from Delhi zoo and nine from Gazipur Chicken Wholesale market to Jalandhar-based lab.

The government has asked city's chicken wholesale markets and poultry farms to inform it if they found dead birds and also keep their area clean.

He said the government was also writing to Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments seeking their cooperation in containing the situation as migratory birds enter the city the neighbouring states.

The Delhi government has constituted four more rapid response teams besides formation of a 23-member team headed by Development Commissioner Sandeep Kumar for better coordination between different departments.