Bird flu confirmed in India's West Bengal state

The Indian Government has confirmed bird flu in its eastern-most state of West Bengal. According to an official statement issued by the department of animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries under the ministry of agriculture, samples collected from two villages in the state''s Nadia district tested positive for "H5" strain of Avian Influenza Tuesday. Immediately after discovering bird flu, the Government decided to commence culling of birds and destruction of eggs and feed material to control further spread of the disease. It has been also been decided that the entire poultry will be culled within a radius of three km of the infected area, and surveillance will be carried out over a further radius up to 10 km. Besides, surveillance would be intensified throughout the state to monitor further spread of infection. And, the state government has been asked to furnish a daily report on the control and containment operations, added the official statement. Culling has been announced within a radius of three kilometres of the infected area. In addition, surveillance has been ordered in surrounding areas up to 10 km. The central government has advised the state to ban movement of poultry and poultry products in the infected area and to close poultry and egg markets and shops within a radius of 10 km from the infected site. They have suggested a ban on the movement of farm personnel, restricting access to wild and stray birds and stopping access to infected premises. As regards compensation for loss of poultry on account of culling and destruction of birds, the central government will share costs on a 50:50 basis with the state, the statement said. "The payment of compensation should be ensured immediately and simultaneously to culling," it said. The last outbreak took place during February-March in Tripura. The country was declared free from the disease on July 4.