Bird Flu situation under control : Govt

Kolkata, Feb 2 (UNI) As the culling operation in West Bengal reached near the target today, the State Government claimed that the bird flu situation was under control.

'' The situation is now largely under control. Culling is over in most of the affected districts, '' a government official said.

According to the official figure, about three million birds had been culled during the operation in 13 districts, while steps were being taken to prevent the recurrence of the deadly disease.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee instructed on Thursday last to complete the culling by today.

Animal Resources Development Minister Anisur Rahman said after culling was over in the affected areas, all possible measures would be taken to disinfect the cooperatives, the residence of poultry owners and their neighbourhood.

The State Government had already decided to put in mandatory quarantine for seven days all the health workers, who participated in culling.

Amid reports of culling teams leaving without undergoing the mandatory quarantine in Murshidabad and Birbhum districts, the Centre had directed the state government to ''call back such teams and ensure that they undergo procedural checks and the quarantine period''.

A comprehensive list containing the names of persons whose poultry had either died of the disease or culled will be compiled very soon for compensation, Mr Rahman said.

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