"The samples of the dead poultry, which were sent to the High Security Animal Diseases Laboratory (HSADL) in Bhopal, had tested positive. We have already identified the affected area and the culling operation would begin from Thursday," Principal Secretary in charge of Animal Resource Development (ARD) department U. Venkateswarlu told IANS.

He said a few chickens died in backyard poultry farms in bordering west Tripura's Mohanpur village, 30 kilometers west of the capital city Agartala of Tripura last week. Blood samples werethen sent for laboratory tests.

The principal secretary Tuesday held an urgent meeting with the top officials of the Border Security Force (BSF), police, ARD department, forests, Public Works Department and others to start the culling operations.

Senior officials and experts rushed to the bird flu-affected village and drop-gates were set up to restrict movement to and from the village.

"A little over 50,000 poultry birds are expected to be slaughtered at Mohanpur and six adjoining villages, bordering Bangladesh," Venkateswarlu said.

Tripura, which shares an 856-km international border with Bangladesh, completed culling of over 41,000 poultry and destroyed thousands of other poultry products following an outbreak of bird flu last month in the border villages of Kamalpur under Dhalai district.

Further Reading

- You can visit the Avian Flu page by clicking here.