A zoo in Chhattisgarh has been closed for a fortnight following the death of a jackal due to suspected anthrax infection, a forest official said on Wednesday.
Divisional Forest Officer Sunil Mishra told UNI that the case of suspected anthrax infection came to notice after the death of a jackal at the Nandanvan zoo at the outskirts of Raipur.
"There are symptoms of anthrax. But the disease is yet to be confirmed," he added.
Steps have been taken to maintain cleanliness in the zoo and all animals are being given antibiotic medicines, he said, adding the employees and others in contact with the zoo are being administered a five day course of vaccination.
Quoting medical experts, Mishra said there was no threat to humans.
Blood samples of cattle from the nearby places were being collected for examination, he informed.
"We have advised vaccination of cattle in a radius of five kilometers," he said, adding the local administration, health and animal husbandry departments have been alerted about the matter.
Mishra said experts, who were trained at the Wildlife Research Institute at Dehra Dun, were available within the state but the state would seek the services of more experts, if necessary.
