New Delhi, Oct 28 (IANS) Three more birds succumbed to bird flu here on Friday, prompting the authorities to shut down a park in Paschim Vihar in west Delhi, officials said.
Earlier, Delhi Zoo, the Hauz Khas Deer Park and a lake near Shakti Sthal, the memorial to Indira Gandhi, were shut down.
On Friday, two birds died at the District Park in Paschim Vihar. Another bird died at the lake near Shakti Sthal, taking the total count of dead birds to over 75.
Delhi Animal Husbandry Minister Gopal Rai chaired a meeting of the 23-member coordination committee and asked all agencies having any water bodies under their jurisdiction to maintain strict vigil.
"Action will be taken if there is any lapse on their part," Rai said.
The minister earlier ordered all government departments to spread lime powder around every water body. He also ordered them to spray anti-virus Sodium Hypochlorite on birds where they usually gather.
The first bird deaths were reported at Delhi Zoo, followed by Deer Park and the lake near Shakti Sthal. Samples sent to the central lab in Bhopal confirmed presence of H5N8 avian influenza virus.
Unlike the H5N1 virus, the H5N8 strain does not pose much risk to humans, according to experts.
