Delhi zoo shut after bird flu scare 5 Photos . Updated: 20 Oct 2016, 12:17 PM IST Livemint New Delhi zoo has temporarily closed after two birds died of bird flu, a month after India declared itself free of the disease. In images 1/5The main gate of the Delhi Zoo in New Delhi on Wednesday (19 October). The zoo has temporarily closed after two birds died of bird flu. The closure came a month after India declared itself free of the disease. Photos: Sajjad Hussain/AFP 2/5A Delhi Zoo official said tests had confirmed the two birds died of the H5 strain of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu. A total of nine birds, including ducks, pelicans and painted storks, have died in recent days but only the two were confirmed as having had avian flu. 3/5Empty ticket counters at the Delhi Zoo in New Delhi on Wednesday. The zoo attracts about 22 lakh visitors annually. 4/5A worker fumigating the main gate leading to the Delhi Zoo with bleaching powder on Wednesday. Most strains of bird flu do not usually infect humans, but the H5 strain of the virus—found in the zoo’s birds—can cause fever, cough, sore throat, pneumonia, respiratory disease and sometimes death. 5/5The National Zoological Park or Delhi Zoo, one of the largest in India, which has some 1,400 animals, reptiles and birds belonging to around 130 species, was also in the spotlight earlier this year. As many as 46 spotted deer reportedly died of rabies in May.