Our Correspondent / NEW DELHI

Centre has formed three-member committee to keep close watch on the the situation arising due to outbreak of Avian influenza in different parts of the country.

Talking to media, Director of the National Zoological Park of Delhi Amitabh Agnihotri said, the committee will be headed by member secretary of Central Zoo Authority.

He said, there is no mortality of wild birds in the last two days, which is indicating that the situation is improving. He said, alerts and advisories have been issued to states and Zoo authorities directing them to increase surveillance.

Mr Agnihotri said, 15 samples have been sent to laboratory in Bhopal for advanced testing. Government has appealed residents not to touch dead birds and said there is no need to panic.

Suspected death of 24 birds have been reported in the city after an outbreak of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu. Avian influenza is an infectious viral disease of birds and spreads from bird to bird but may sometimes spread from birds to humans.

The report of the samples of three birds which died recently at Delhi Zoo due to Bird Flu are in the category of the influenza virus H5N8 and there is no threat to humans from this virus.

The popular Delhi Zoo and the Deer Park has been shut down for infinite period by the authorities after the outbreak of the influenza.