Pune, 26 July (HS):

Sixteen Spotted Deer in Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park in Pune’s Katraj died due

to a foot and mouth viral infection.

The samples were

given for testing to several laboratories across the nation. The

investigations confirmed the infection as the cause of the deaths. The dead

animals did not show any symptoms of illness. The lab tests were carried out at

Nagpur, Bareilly, Bhubaneswar, and Bhopal.

A meeting of the

Wildlife Health Advisory Committee was convened to discuss the issue. A number

of steps to manage the likely spread of the viral disease are being planned.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar