Close monitoring is on, says Delhi Govt. on bird flu scare

New Delhi [India], Oct 21 (ANI): With the national capital going through a renewed bird flu scare, the Delhi Government on Friday said that regular monitoring is being done, adding that the medical card will be used at the entry gate of every mandi (wholesale market place) to curb the spread of the infection. Speaking to ANI here, Delhi's Development Minister Gopal Rai who visited the Ghazipur chicken mandi said no infection was found in the 2.2 lakh birds which arrived recently. "We have taken few decision in this regard. We'll make a medical card that will be used at the entry gate to curb the spread the infection. Those trucks which don't have medical certificate will not be allowed to enter. five official, five doctor and five retailers committee will be formed who will continuously monitor the situation," he added. Meanwhile, the National Zoological Park in Delhi, which has been closed temporarily, has reported fresh cases of deaths of pelican birds. The zoo was shut down on Wednesday after nine birds, including painted storks, ducks and pelicans died of avian influenza at its premises between October 14 and October 17. A team of Central Zoo Authority is currently inspecting all the enclosures at the zoo. Also, the Delhi government has shut down the Deer Park in Hauz Khas after it suspected that two birds found dead inside the park could be infected with bird flu. Around 100 more samples have been collected in the last two days from Ghazipur, Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Najafgarh drain, Yamuna Biodiversity Park and the Central Park in Hauz Khas and sent to a specialised Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Jalandhar. (ANI)