Fear spreads its wings: 17 more ducks die at Deer Park

NEW DELHI: Seventeen more ducks were found dead at Deer Park in Hauz Khas on Saturday, raising fears that bird flu was spreading to other parts of Delhi where migratory birds are found. These deaths were reported in the past 24 hours.
According to a spokesperson of the Delhi Development Authority, which looks after the facility, “Our officials have cleaned the area according to the directions of the chief of Delhi zoo,” he said.“After taking samples for tests, the dead birds were buried inside the park as per the instructions of experts.”
The samples retrieved have been sent to a Bhopal-based laboratory for tests. “Scientists, animal husbandry officials and specialists from the health department are keeping a close watch on the situation,” said a government official. Both the Delhi zoo and Deer Park remain closed till further notice to curb the spread of the avian disease.
Deer Park alone has reported nearly 30 bird deaths since October 14, while there have been 12 deaths in the Delhi zoo. Three cases of bird deaths have also been reported from Sunder Nagar, which is located less than a kilometre from the zoo. One bird died in the Asola Bhatti wildlife sanctuary in Tughlakabad. They are presumed to have been infected by the H5N8 strain of bird flu virus.
According to a Delhi government official, “There is no need for panic as yet. But people should be alert about birds dying in their localities. One should not touch the carcasses of the birds. People can intimate officials concerned on the helpline number 011-23890318 being operated by the state government.”
The official said unlike H5N1, which has claimed 450 lives globally, H5N8 is not known to cause infection in humans. It is, however, a highly pathogenic virus and the risk of transmission in birds is higher.
The H5N8 virus, officials said, was first detected in domestic ducks in China about five years ago. Since 2014, several outbreaks involving this virus strain have affected poultry and wild bird species in South Korea, China and Japan. A study reported that viral replication and shedding was greater in mallards infected with the H5N8 virus than in mallards infected with H5N1 virus.