Gwalior zoo samples test positive for new bird flu strain

The Centre today said a new bird flu virus subtype H5N8 has been confirmed in samples from Gandhi Zoological Park, Gwalior, days after Delhi government shut the National Zoological Park in the wake of avian influenza.
Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries has asked Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to issue advisories to all wildlife/bird sanctuaries in the country.
National Institute for High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) has said that the samples were received from Gandhi Zoological Park, Gwalior which have tested positive for H5N8 AIV, Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement.
"Instructions have been issued to state Animal Husbandry Director. The Ministry Of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has also been requested to issue advisories to all wildlife/bird sanctuaries in the country," it added.

Till now, no human infections with H5N8 has been established anywhere in the world. However, necessary precautions are to be undertaken while handling sick/dead birds and contaminated material during control and containment operations, it said.
Earlier this week, NIHSAD had confirmed that the virus subtype H5N8 infection in wild birds, which is a new subtype, is being reported for the first time in the country.

H5N8 has been reported from 11 countries during 2015 and four countries (including India) during 2016.
The statement said avian influenza disease in wild/ migratory birds does not affect the status of the country and hence there are no trade implications.

On October 17, NIHSAD Bhopal had said that samples of wild birds died in National Zoological Park (NZP), New Delhi have tested positive for H5 avian influenza virus.
These samples had earlier tested positive for Influenza A virus at Northern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (NRDDL), Jalandhar.
Immediately, the advisory was issued to the Director, Animal Husbandry, Delhi Administration and the Director, NZP and were requested to send the report to the Department.
On October 18, the NZP said that the mortality was among the wild birds and not the captive birds.
"Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries has requested NIHSAD, Bhopal and the NRDDL to investigate the outbreak thoroughly to determine the source of infection, so that the zoo authorities across the country can implement suitable strategy to prevent the ingress of the disease to captive birds. The same is under progress," the statement said.

On Wednesday, Delhi government announced shutting down of the National Zoological Park for the next three days in the wake of the death of nine water birds due to H5 avian influenza.