Delhi: Avian influenza not detected in poultry birds; CM orders to open Ghazipur market

Singh further said that the remaining four samples of Heron birds were taken from the Hastsal Park and bird flu is suspected in these four cases, and that these samples have been sent from a Jalandhar-based lab to Bhopal for confirmation.

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal issued directions to open the Ghazipur poultry market after all 100 samples collected from there tested negative for bird flu.

“Samples taken from poultry markets have tested negative with respect to Bird Flu. Have directed to open the poultry market & withdraw the orders to restrict trade & import of chicken stocks,” the chief minister said in a tweet.

Samples taken from poultry markets have tested negative with respect to Bird Flu.

Have directed to open the poultry market & withdraw the orders to restrict trade & import of chicken stocks.

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 14, 2021

On Wednesday, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation and South Delhi Municipal Corporation also ordered restaurants not to serve “poultry meat, poultry product and egg-based dishes”.

“All meat and poultry shops and meat processing units in areas under the NDMC/ SDMC/ EDMC are prohibited to sell, store poultry or processed or packaged chicken meat with immediate effect, till further orders,” said the orders issued by the veterinary services departments of the civic bodies. The civic bodies warned that any violation would lead to revocation of the shop’s licence.

However, both the Centre and Delhi government have said that it is safe to consume “properly cooked poultry products” and “Avian Influenza is not transmitted through cooked food”.

Over the past week, several ducks at Sanjay Lake and crows across some parks in the city have been found dead. Some of the samples tested positive for bird flu.

The Delhi government has, however, issued an advisory stating that it is safe to consume properly cooked poultry meat and eggs.