NEW DELHI, 21 October 2016 : In order to check rise in bird flu case, Delhi state government has made health certificate mandatory for all poultry transport to Asia's largest poultry market, Ghazipur poultry market.
Announcing this, Delhi Animal husbandry minister, Gopal Rai also constituted a 15-member committee, which includes poultry traders, doctors and market association officials that has been mandated to check this provision of health certificate at the Ghazipur market.
This move comes after many migratory birds were found dead in Delhi.
The death of two birds was first reported on October 14, 2016 and it was followed by six more birds in the Delhi zoo.
Sample of these birds were sent to a lab in Northern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (NRDDL), Jalandhar and also at National Institute for High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal that confirmed a new bird flu virus subtype H5N8, which was reported by Agriculture Times earlier today.
Speaking on this, animal husbandry minister said that the government is taking all necessary measures to check the threat of bird flu in the city even though there is 'no immediate danger'.
There have been some deaths of migratory birds reported due to H5 virus in Delhi Zoo. But there is no alarming situation. Government is taking immediate preemptive actions, Rai adds.
Rapid action teams formed
Rai said that six rapid response teams have been formed and sent to possible spots from where the influenza virus can spread in the city including bird sanctuaries and poultry markets.
A team each has been sent to Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Nizamuddin (where sale and purchase of poultry happens), Yamuna Biodiversity Park, Najafgarh drain and Ghazipur poultry market, Rai said.
The Delhi government has also started a helpline number (011-23890318) to report cases of bird flu and seek help.
Image credit: ProKerala.com
