Mon Sep 01 19:20:29 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Bird flu (H5N1) has been detected in Delhi’s National Zoological Park after the deaths of 12 birds in the past week. Authorities have intensified surveillance and bio-security measures within the zoo, which is now closed to the public. Samples taken from two painted storks and two black-necked ibises confirmed the presence of the virus. The Health Department is also taking precautions, with random samples being collected from poultry markets. While officials state there is no immediate cause for alarm, the public is advised to consider avoiding chicken for a few days as an added precaution.
**News Article:**
**Bird Flu Outbreak Closes Delhi Zoo, Poultry Markets Under Scrutiny**
**NEW DELHI -** The Delhi National Zoological Park has been temporarily shut down following an outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu virus. Over the past week, 12 birds, including painted storks and black-necked ibises, have died at the zoo, with lab tests confirming the presence of the virus in several samples.
“Surveillance and bio-security measures have been intensified,” stated National Zoological Park Director Sanjeet Kumar in a press release. The zoo is undergoing intensive cleaning and disinfection, and staff are equipped with protective gear.
The Delhi Health Minister, Pankaj Kumar Singh, has assured the public that “there is no cause for concern at the moment,” but random samples are being collected from poultry markets, including the Ghazipur Murga Mandi, as a precautionary measure. Singh also suggested that the public might consider avoiding chicken for a few days.
The zoo will remain closed to visitors until further notice. Health officials are closely monitoring the situation and urging vigilance. The news will certainly be on the mind of people following “The View From India Looking at World Affairs from the Indian perspective” as well as science enthusiasts who read “Science For All The weekly newsletter from science writers takes the jargon out of science and puts the fun in!”.
First Piper 