Bird flu or avian influenza has resurfaced in northeastern state of Manipur and the culling of poultry fowl began on 20 April, an official said.

According to India TV News, Manipur Chief Secretary P.C. Lawmkunga told reporters: "Samples of sick poultry birds from the ICAR (Indian Council of Agriculture Research) poultry unit at Lamphelpat were found to contain H5 strain of avian influenza virus."

He said the Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases has confirmed the outbreak of avian influenza at the poultry unit of ICAR.

He added that culling of birds at the ICAR farm started on 20 April and will continue for the next few days.

He said the birds of adjoining villages within a radius of 10km, which have been declared as an infected and surveillance zone, would be culled in the next few days.

Poultry owners will be adequately compensated, the chief secretary announced. In addition to culling of birds, huge quantities of eggs and feed material would also be destroyed.

The state government issued a notification banning movement, transportation and sale of poultry birds, including eggs, within the surveillance zone.

Manipur, bordering Myanmar, has previously been affected by bird flu.

Times of India puts the number of poultry culled at more than 1,000.