Bird Flu Suspected in West Bengal

NEW DELHI - There is a possible outbreak of bird flu in eastern India as some 10,000 backyard poultry have died in West Bengal's Birbhum district over the past 10 days, the Indian Express reported Monday.

14 January 2008

2 minute read

Asia

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"If we get the confirmation in the final report, we will order culling of birds"

West Bengal Minister for Animal Resource Development Anisur Rahman

Preliminary results of tests showed they were infected but it was unclear if it was the deadly H5N1 virus.

West Bengal Minister for Animal Resource Development Anisur Rahman said: "We sent samples to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory which, in its preliminary report, suggested that it could be avian flu. They advised us to take all possible measures to prevent it from spreading. I have asked the district administration to stop the exchange of poultry to and from the area."

Rahman said the Indian central government, which has been apprised of the situation, has also sent officials to the spot. "If we get the confirmation in the final report, we will order culling of birds," he said.

State officials said no alarm had been sounded.

Thousands of birds in India were culled following outbreaks of the deadly H5N1 virus in southern states in 2006.

Bangladesh, which borders West Bengal, is still reeling under bird flu with around 21 of the country's 64 districts affected by the deadly virus, the report said.