NEW DELHI, – The Delhi state government today banned import of live birds and closed city’s biggest poultry market in Ghazipur for 10 days as avian influenza commonly known as bird flu was reported in India’s seven states so far.

Following the outbreak of the flu among the migratory birds and ducks in several states, the Indian government has intensified its efforts to contain further spread of the highly contagious disease.

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has asked states and Union Territories (UTs) to intensify monitoring of potential hot spots and maintain communication with the department to this end.

The bird flu has so far been reported in India’s seven states – Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat – where thousands of crows and migratory birds were found dead.

The Delhi government has set up a 24-hour helpline for citizens and rapid response teams have been formed in every Delhi district as veterinary officers are surveying bird markets, wildlife establishments and water bodies.

The state authority has intensified its effort to this end following finding of 24 dead crows at a district park in south Delhi’s Jasola in the past three days and 10 ducks have died at the famous Sanjay Lake.

Later, it closed the lake, along with three recreational parks as part of precautionary measures taken following the reports came in.

The bird flu was first reported on January 4 in India’s several states following the deaths of crows and migratory birds due to avian influenza. A total of 2400 migratory birds at Pong wetland in Himachal Pradesh were found death on that day.

The same day, the Kerala government said that around 12,000 ducks have died in the last few days while another 36,000 were culled to contain spread of the virus.