Red Fort to remain closed till January 26 as dead crows sample test positive for avian influenza

New Delhi : The entry of the general public has been banned in the Red Fort till January 26 as the sample of dead crows tested positive for avian influenza.

After several birds were found dead in the Red Fort, the samples were sent to Jalandhar and Bhopal for testing. The test results have confirmed bird flu.

Officials have said Red Fort will now be shut till January 26 when the monument will hold the Republic Day parade.

On Saturday, a sample of a dead owl had tested positive for avian influenza.

Last week, the Delhi government had banned the sale of processed and packaged chicken brought from outside the city and ordered the closure of the Ghazipur poultry market in east Delhi for 10 days after samples taken from crows and ducks at parks and lakes in the national capital tested positive for avian influenza.

Taking precautionary measures, municipal corporations of the city had also imposed a temporary ban on sale and storage of poultry or processed chicken meat in view of the bird flu situation.

The ban was lifted on Thursday after all 100 samples taken from Delhi's biggest poultry market in Ghazipur tested negative.

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