Culling of birds begins in West Bengal as Bird Flu spreads

Culling of birds began on Tuesday at Tehatta 1 block in Nadia district after confirmation of the outbreak of Avian Influenza, popularly known as Bird Flu.

Symptomns of Avian Influenza were initially observed among hens in 13 villages under 5 Gram Panchayat areas of Tehatta 1 block about ten days back.

The samples of the birds were collected and sent to High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) Bhopal for tests.

"The report arrived at around 6.30 pm yesterday confirming Bird Flu. We decided to start culling and it was initiated today," Nure Alam Chowdhury, Animal Resource Department Minister told a press conference after visiting the affected block in Krishnagar on Tuesday.

Twenty teams comprising 420 persons were deployed in the process of culling scheduled in 5 gram panchayat areas. After culling, the dead birds will be buried at Lalbazar, a place near Indo-Bangladesh border. Three big holes were dug up for the disposal of the culled birds here, he said.

Tehatta SDO Achinta Mondal said "we hope to cull about 5000 birds today and the culling work will go on upto 7pm and the culled birds will be buried".

"In addition to culling, surveillance will go on within 10km of the affected area excluding three km of the foci of the infection", the minister said.

The minister arrived at Tehatta on Tuesday morning and visited some of the affected places.

Meanwhile the Indo-Bangla border has also been sealed, the minister said.

Official reports said culling will continue for three consecutive days. During this period, movement of people deployed in culling also have been restricted outside the area. They have been provided with special uniform.

The SDO said the tyres of the vehicles moving through the areas would be disinfected. About 300 vehicles cross the area on an average everyday along this Krishnagar-Karimpur road.

There is a vast waterbody at Tehatta where some migratory birds come during winter. The minister suspected the migratory birds might have left behind the germs of Bird Flu.

The minister said "there is no need to get into panic mode as the situation is under control."

The owners of the culled birds would be provided with coupons at the time of culling and they would be compensated accordingly.

"They will get the same rate as was given to them in 2009", the minister said adding they would try to provide them with a higher rate.

Over fifty thousand birds, including 20,000 ducks and pigeons, were affected with Bird Flu in the block, the sources said.