Govt issues health advisory on bird flu

Tribune News Service 

New Delhi, October 24

The Delhi Government today issued a health advisory after deaths of six more birds, suspected to be due to avian flu in two places in the national Capital. 

This has pushed the toll to over 60 and reports received yesterday from central lab in Bhopal have confirmed that deaths of birds in the Sundar Nagar area were also caused by H5N8 avian influenza which is said to less infective for humans. 

The decision came after Animal Husbandry Minister Gopal Rai held an emergency coordination committee meeting at Delhi Secretariat when the reports of death of four birds at the water body behind Shakti Sthal at Rajghat and two other deaths last night at Deer Park came in. 

"The increase in deaths warrants close monitoring and it has started. There are 12 rapid response teams deputed for the task. They will be given training tomorrow. Team from Pune's National Institute of Virology are taking samples from the zoo to find out the sudden cause of deaths in the zoo. The flu cases are being reported from other states too," Rai said speaking to reporters here. 

The government's advisory listed dos and don'ts. 

Dos: Avoid direct contact with bird secretions; clean all feeders, waterers, cages, used for birds with detergents (soap/surf); dispose properly all the slaughter waste; inform the control room in case of death of birds on the phone number 23890318; wash hands frequently at the time of dealing with raw poultry products; take due care of personal hygiene; eat only completely cooked meat and meat products (100ºC)

Don'ts: Do not consume uncooked chicken or eggs; Do not consume half cooked chicken/bird or half boiled or half fried eggs; don’t keep raw meat near cooked meat.