PATNA: Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi (SuMo) said on Wednesday there was no fear of avian influenza or bird flu spreading among human beings. He also said the situation with regard to outbreak of avian influenza at Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, commonly known as Patna zoo, was under control.SuMo, who is also state environment and forests minister, held a high-level review meeting with the department and zoo officials on Wednesday to take stock of the situation at Patna zoo, where seven peafowls and a khalij pheasant died due to bird flu between December 16 and 29.“We are adhering to the recommendations of the experts from Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly (UP), who visited the zoo on December 29 and 30 to assess the situation and chalk out action plan for containment of bird flu. Also, the samples of 26 bird species, including blood and feathers along with soil and water from the zoo, were sent to National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) at Bhopal on December 31. The second set of samples will be sent on January 15,” SuMo said.He said a decision with regard to opening the zoo for public will be taken after both the reports from NIHSAD come negative.The zoo is shut since December 25 following the death of six peafowls from H5N1 virus, which was confirmed by NIHSAD and Regional Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory (RDDL), Kolkata.Sanitization works were under way at the zoo on Wednesday as well. A statement from the zoo stated that Virkon-S disinfectant was sprayed in the enclosures of hyena, leopards, tiger and lions among other animals.Animal husbandry department has also collected over 500 samples from poultry farms and shops as part of a serum surveillance conducted in the 9km radius of the zoo to assess the spread of avian influenza virus outside the premises. The samples have been sent to NIHSAD and RDDL, Kolkata.Meanwhile, health minister Mangal Pandey said his department was alert with regard to spread of bird flu among human beings. “Health department is taking appropriate steps for containment of bird flu. All government hospitals have been alerted to immediately report cases with suspected symptoms of bird flu,” Pandey said.

Stay updated with all the Latest Patna headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.