Bird flu spreads to new areas of WB

Kolkata, Jan 19: Outbreak of Bird flu is reported at new areas of West Bengal and other three districts reported large-scale culling of birds as Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Friday described the situation as "very serious."

In Birbhum and South Dinajpur, where the outbreak of bird flu is confirmed, culling continued for the fourth day to curb the spread of the disease. The Centre confirmed that the samples from these two districts were the deadliest H5N1, which can mutate and infect Human Beings. Poultry deaths in these two districts and Murshidabad touched 85,000, officials said.

Union Animal Husbandry Secretary Pradeep Kumar told reporters in New Delhi that bird samples from Murshidabad district have tested positive for bird flu on the basis of rapid tests and authorities are considering starting culling operations there.

Sources