NEW DELHI: Treading cautiously in the wake of the avian flu situation in the country, the National Zoological Park here - better known as Delhi Zoo -- has put in place a blanket ban on feeding chicken, meat and eggs to the zoo inmates till "the flu situation improves".

Despite there being no case of bird flu in the Capital till date, the National Zoological Park, which houses several animal and bird species and is spread over 214 acres, has also restricted bringing in of poultry and poultry products into the staff quarters.

Also, the authorities said, the zoo will also not accept any rescued birds for the time being, in an effort to keep the flu at bay and keep the large in-house population safe.

A close watch is also being maintained on the flock of migratory birds currently in the zoo, even as they are preparing to return with the winters coming to an end in the Capital.

"The Zoological Park caters to a large population of migratory birds and is home to a huge stock of animals and birds and we have to be careful about them. Till the flu scare settles we have put a stop to the supply of the 30-kg/per day of chicken that was being fed to small cats. Also the supply of 75-100 eggs a day has been stopped. Bringing in of poultry products into the staff quarters too has been restricted which we hope will prevent any chance of entry of the flu. Also since the migratory season is over and the birds are returning we do not foresee any danger to inmates. All the zoo birds have been put under strict surveillance. Senior officials are maintaining a day-to-day health chart," said Zoo director D.N. Singh.

A general alert has also been sounded in the Capital with bird watchers, who are part of the Delhi Bird Society, being asked to watch for any symptoms and report them to the authorities.

Meanwhile, Delhi Health Minister Yoganand Shastri on Tuesday asserted that the Capital was prepared to meet any situation and that there was no need to panic. However, he urged people to remain alert. At a meeting with senior officers from the Health and Animal Husbandry departments, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, NDMC, Delhi Cantonment Board, National Institute of Communicable Diseases, All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, Safdurjung Hospital and Sucheta Kripalani Hospital, he also discussed and assessed the measures in place to counter the flu.

He said the Government was keeping a strict vigil on the situation and if needed special arrangements would be made in all hospitals of the Capital.

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