Seven waterbirds died of avian influenza at Chennai’s Vandalur zoo between October 3 and October 9. The zoo will remain shut on October 22 and 23 for intensive sanitisation. Zoo director Ritto Cyriac said, "All disinfection measures were taken right after the deaths were reported, and no death has occurred."
CHENNAI: Seven waterbirds died of
avian influenza (bird flu) in the Vedanthangal enclosure at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park (Vandalur zoo) here more than a week ago. Authorities have announced that the zoo will remain shut on Oct 22 and 23 for intensive sanitisation.Officials said that the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal on Wednesday confirmed H5N1 avian influenza virus in the waterbirds. "We sent the samples for testing when the birds died, and the results were out today. All disinfection measures were taken right after the deaths were reported, and no death has been reported since the last one on Oct 9," zoo director Ritto Cyriac told TOI.According to officials, four painted storks, a pelican grey, a grey heron and darter had died in the zoo between Oct 3 and Oct 9. Immediate steps were taken to disinfect the area and take care of the remaining birds."Prophylactic oral antibiotics, herbal antiviral medications, immunostimulants and liver supplements were administered to all water birds through fish for seven days. All water bird enclosures were sprayed with an antiviral disinfectant solution.
The enclosure water was disinfected, cleaned and replaced with fresh water, and the affected area was cordoned off with ropes to restrict visitor access," Cyriac added.
Zoo authorities have urged people to cooperate for the temporary closure. "This temporary measure is intended to facilitate intensive sanitisation, strengthen biosecurity measures, and ensure close monitoring of the situation," the zoo said in release.