Overview

• Officials said 15 birds have died, including painted storks and black‑necked ibises, with the latest fatalities reported on Monday.
• More samples from migratory painted storks returned H5N1 positives from the NIHSAD reference lab in Bhopal.
• The zoo remains shut to visitors until further notice as teams conduct twice‑daily surveys, disinfect enclosures and ponds, and monitor animals by CCTV while staff use protective gear.
• A painted stork moved to isolation later died and another ibis died on Monday, while earlier four sick birds had been segregated for treatment and observation.
• Reopening hinges on protocol: continued random testing for 21 days without new deaths followed by tests every 15 days for at least three negative rounds, with an NCDC team set to screen staff and an expert committee convened to guide next steps.