Massive Cull Begins in West Bengal
WEST BENGAL - India's West Bengal Wednesday began a massive operation to kill poultry birds in two districts affected by the H5N1 strain of bird flu, according to the Indo-Asian News Service.
16 January 2008
2 minute read
India's Ministry of Agriculture Tuesday confirmed an outbreak of the deadly H5N1 virus of bird flu in eastern state West Bengal.
* "At least 350,000 birds would be culled in Birbhum district and about 28,000 in South Dinajpur" |
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West Bengal Animal Resource Minister Anisur Rahman.
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"The High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) has confirmed the outbreak, and we have sent rapid response teams to the state for the initial ground work," said Pradip Kumar, secretary of the animal husbandry department.
According to the ministry, West Bengal has reported the death of over 35,000 poultry birds. No human infections have been reported so far.
"We started the culling operation this morning. At least 350,000 birds would be culled in Birbhum district and about 28,000 in South Dinajpur district," said West Bengal Animal Resource Minister Anisur Rahman.
He added that the government would pay compensation to the affected farmers.
The ministry has also asked the state to seal its borders with Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal as it mounted efforts to contain the spread of the disease, the report said.
Further Reading
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- You can visit the Avian Flu page by clicking here. |
