Delhi Zoo Closes After Painted Storks Test Positive for H5N1 Bird Flu

The National Zoological Park in New Delhi has been closed to visitors starting August 30 after two painted storks tested positive for the H5N1 avian influenza virus, confirmed by tests conducted at the National Institute for High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal. This marks the third avian influenza outbreak at the Delhi Zoo, with previous closures in 2016 and 2021 due to similar incidents. In response, zoo authorities have implemented strict biosecurity protocols, intensive surveillance, and containment measures in line with the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying’s 2021 action plan for avian influenza control to prevent the spread of the virus among animals, birds, staff, and visitors. The closure is a precautionary public health measure, and the zoo will remain shut until further notice, with ongoing monitoring and testing planned to confirm when the facility is virus-free. Authorities have clarified that no culling of birds will occur, focusing instead on affected enclosures and environmental sampling. These efforts aim to safeguard both the zoo population and the general public from potential risks associated with the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus, which is recognized by the World Health Organization as a zoonotic disease with pandemic potential.