India (incl. West Bengal) - Poultry (December 2008 -)

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: India (incl. West Bengal) - Poultry (December 2008 -)

Bird flu hits Darjeeling, culling begins

, March 14, 2009

Siliguri, March 14 (IANS) With a fresh outbreak of avian flu reported from West Bengal's Darjeeling district, the administration Saturday evening began three days of culling poultry.

'Culling will take place within a three kilometre radius of Naxalbari. The areas from where avian flu was detected are Panighata and Chengapani,' sub-divisional officer Dibyendu Das said in Kurseong, 480 km from Kolkata.


In the last 15 days, around 150 birds died due to avian flu, Das told reporters.


Buying and selling of chicken have been banned within 10 km of the affected area to avoid further spread of the disease. About 14,000-15,000 chicken will be culled.


The samples of the affected birds were tested at Bhopal's High Security Animal Diseases Laboratory, which confirmed avian flu.

http://news.smashits.com/360646/Bird-flu-hits-Darjeeling-culling-begins.htm

[sharon sanders]

Re: India (incl. West Bengal) - Poultry (December 2008 -)

Culling on in Kurseong after outbreak of bird flu


Siliguri, Mar 16 : Altogether 700 chickens have been culled in Tangrapani and Panighata areas of Kurseong subdivision under Darjeeling district so far after outbreak of bird flu was reported from these areas.

Sub-Divisional Officer (Kurseong) Dibyendu Das today said 20 teams of medical personnel began the culling operations in these areas since yesterday, adding it was expected to be completed in the next two to three days.

He admitted that the culling operations had been delayed due to some logistic difficulties.

A police checkpost had also been constructed at Sukna to prevent the import and export of poultry products.

Earlier, unnatural deaths of around 150 chickens were reported during the past 15 days. The blood samples were sent to the High Animal Diseases Laboratory in Bhopal which tested positive with the Avian flu.

The SDO informed that it had been targetted to cull 14,000 poultry in the next few days.

The sale of poultry products had also been banned for the next three months within the ten km radius of the bird flu-hit areas, he added. [/color][/font] <!-- google_ad_section_end --> --- UNI

http://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-4294.html

[Giuseppe]

Re: India (incl. West Bengal) - Poultry (December 2008 -)

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, India (3/17/2009) [WAHID Interface - OIE]

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, India

Information received on 17/03/2009 from Mr Natarajan Gokulram, Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi, India

-- Summary
Report type Follow-up report No. 10
Start date 21/11/2008
Date of first confirmation of the event 27/11/2008
Report date 16/03/2009
Date submitted to OIE 17/03/2009
Reason for notification Reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence 11/2008
Manifestation of disease Clinical disease
Causal agent Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype H5N1
Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (basic), Laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to a defined zone within the country
Related reports
* Immediate notification (28/11/2008)
* Follow-up report No. 1 (11/12/2008)
* Follow-up report No. 2 (17/12/2008)
* Follow-up report No. 3 (19/12/2008)
* Follow-up report No. 4 (02/01/2009)
* Follow-up report No. 5 (13/01/2009)
* Follow-up report No. 6 (21/01/2009)
* Follow-up report No. 7 (02/02/2009)
* Follow-up report No. 8 (19/02/2009)
* Follow-up report No. 9 (04/03/2009)
* Follow-up report No. 10 (16/03/2009)

-- New outbreaks

- Outbreak 1 - Mirik, Bara Chenga, Darjeeling, WEST BENGAL
Date of start of the outbreak 08/03/2009
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Village
Affected animals: Species - Susceptible - Cases - Deaths - Destroyed - Slaughtered
- Birds - 1100 - 4 - 4 - ... - ...
Affected population Rural backyard poultry

-- Summary of outbreaks
Total outbreaks: 1
Outbreak statistics: Species - Apparent morbidity rate - Apparent mortality rate - Apparent case fatality rate - Proportion susceptible animals lost*
- Birds - 0.36% - 0.36% - 100.00% - **
* Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter
** Not calculated because of missing information

-- Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
* Unknown or inconclusive

-- Epidemiological comments
Epidemiological investigation is ongoing. Stamping out of all domestic poultry is being applied in an approximately 3-km-radius zone around the outbreaks followed by compensation of the owners.
An intensive surveillance campaign has been launched in a 10-km-radius zone including:
- closure of poultry markets and prohibition on sale and transportation of poultry products in the infected zone;
- disinfection of premises after culling and sealing of premises where appropriate.
Restocking will be permitted in accordance with protocol followed in this regard.

-- Control measures
Measures applied
* Stamping out
* Quarantine
* Movement control inside the country
* Screening
* No vaccination
* No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied
* Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)
* Dipping / Spraying

-- Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal (National laboratory)
Tests and results: Species - Test - Test date - Result
- Birds - real-time PCR - 11/03/2009 - Positive
- Birds - reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) - 11/03/2009 - Positive
Laboratory name and type National Institute of Virology, Pune (National laboratory)
Tests and results: Species - Test - Test date - Result
- Birds real-time PCR - 10/03/2009 - Positive
- Birds - reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) - 10/03/2009 - Positive

-- Future Reporting
The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.
-

<cite cite="http://www.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=single_report&pop=1&reportid=7889" >WAHID Interface - OIE World Animal Health Information Database</cite>

[Giuseppe]

Re: India (incl. West Bengal) - Poultry (December 2008 -)

India, West Bengal. Bird Flu: ARD feels polls may fan spread - The Statesman

Bird Flu: ARD feels polls may fan spread

KOLKATA, March 18:

With the Lok Sabha poll less than 60 days away, the officials of the state animal resources development department (ARD) are spending sleepless nights to arrest the rapid spread of Bird Flu in the Darjeeling Hills.


Officials feel that the since poll preparations have already started, it would be difficult for them to carry out measures in case the disease spreads further in the area.

Meanwhile, affected villagers refused to accept the allotted compensation and demanded higher pries for culled birds. Thus, the officials apprehend that carrying out culling operations would be a trouble as well.

?Till now, four blocks in Darjeeling district~ Matigara, Rangli Rangliot, Kurseong and Mirik~ have been hit by the Bird Flu virus. Villagers of Matigara have accepted the compensation against the culled birds. But villagers of three other blocks have refused to accept compensation after culling of poultry birds,? said an official.

Senior ARD officials said the Hills would be in an heated state during the election. At that time, it would be tough for the department to carry out culling and disinfecting operation.

This apart, an official said as the polls were approaching nearer, they were already having trouble in carrying out surveillance of poultry birds in the Hills.

?The issue is serious as the spread of the virus has to be stopped at the earliest in the Hills. If it spreads to more areas, it would be tough to get a grip of the situation due to the tough geographical terrain,? said another official.

However, officials said they were laying stress on disinfecting operation in areas from where the disease has already been reported, so that spread of virus to new areas could be stopped.

n SNS
-

<cite cite="http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=23&theme=&usrsess=1&id=247526">The Statesman</cite>

[Shiloh]

Re: India (incl. West Bengal) - Poultry (December 2008 -)

Source: http://www.thestatesman.net/page.new...ss=1&id=248733

Culling in Chopra

RAIGANJ, March 29: North Dinajpur district administration has decided to kill around 14,000 birds in several villages under Daspara and Ghinnigaon gram panchayats near the Chopra police station of North Dinajpur district in the next four days. The decision followed the official announcement declaring the block as Bird Flu affected.

It was reported that hundreds of birds died in the region over the past week, alarming the district administration. The North Dinajpur animal husbandry department officials promptly visited the 'affected' villages and collected samples from the dead birds, which were later sent to a Pune-based national laboratory. The laboratory report confirmed Bird Flu in the area. The culling exercise are scheduled to commence tomorrow.

The deputy director of the North Dinajpur animal husbandry department, Mr Sajal Bhunia, said that his department had formed around 40 teams to complete the exercise at the earliest. n SNS

[Giuseppe]

Re: India (incl. West Bengal) - Poultry (December 2008 -)

India. Scribes sensitised to bird flu at Kolkata meet : 30th mar09 ~ E-Pao! Headlines

Scribes sensitised to bird flu at Kolkata meet

Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 29 2009:

A meeting on sensitisation of regional media about avian influenza participated by around 40 media persons from the North Eastern States, Bihar, Delhi, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal was held at Hotel Taj Bengal at Kolkata on March 27.


Addressing the gathering, Special Director General of Health Services and Director of the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, Government of India, Dr Shiv Lal said that the Govt has formulated a strategic plan to tackle the disease.

The plan is based on checking spread of H5NI virus which causes the disease to man.

To facilitate intensified collaboration between Animal and Health Departments both at Central and State levels in the event of the outbreak of the disease, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has stock-piled one million doses of the drug Oseltamivir (also known as Tamil Flu) as well as requisite quantities of personal protection equipment (PPE), he said.

The Serum Institute of India has been entrusted to manufacture pre-pandemic and pandemic vaccines to face any eventuality in case there is any extensive outbreak of avian influenza.

In the aftermath of the outbreak of avian influenza in Maharastra in February 2006, the WHO has designated the National Institute of Virology Pune as the Regional Reference Laboratory.

Moreover, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been conducting integrated disease surveillance in public health institutions and laboratories, Dr Shiv Lal said.

On the other hand, the Government of India has already trained Rapid Response teams at Central and State levels.

Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Dr RS Shukla also appreciated the role taken by media when the diseases was first reported in West Bengal in 2008. During the workshop jointly organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, WHO, FAO and UNICEF also deliberated on the possible roles the media should take and measures that may be taken up by the relevant Departments in case of the outbreak of the disease and the pandemic threat it posed to human lives.

The workshop discussed in detail the possible steps that may be taken up by media when the highly pathogenic H5NI virus infects thousands of people and the situation reaches a pandemic stage when there are large human casualty, schools are closed, movement of people restricted and even cremation of dead bodies is prohibited.

The media persons conducted group discussion and made presentations to the Ministry and UNICEF to implement their observations.

The meeting agreed on formulating a strategy to create awareness among the people extensively on the issue of avian influenza.

It further discussed on the media acting as catalysing agents towards changing the attitude of backyard poultry farmers, producers, traders and sellers regarding the disease.

Taking part in the workshop Chief of Communication, UNICEF India Country Office Angela Walker said that FAO and WHO as UN's leading technical agencies for animal and human health, have the lead roles in communicating technical information on the progression of virus.

However, because children account for nearly half of all reported human cases and impact of avian influenza goes well beyond the immediate risk to their health, UNICEF has an obligation to advocate for the specific needs of children.

Further adding the roles of international agencies such as UN as a part of broader strategy for prevention and containment of avian influenza, it aims to communicate relevant information at various stages of AI and pandemic preparedness.
-

<cite cite="http://www.e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=5..300309.mar09">Scribes sensitised to bird flu at Kolkata meet : 30th mar09 ~ E-Pao! Headlines</cite>

[HenryN]

Re: India (incl. West Bengal) - Poultry (December 2008 -)

AVIAN INFLUENZA (29): INDIA (WEST BENGAL)
*****************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Sun 29 Mar 2009
Source: The Statesman [edited]
<http://www.thestatesman.net/page.new...ss=1&id=248733>


North Dinajpur district administration has decided to kill around 14
000 birds in several villages under Daspara and Ghinnigaon gram
panchayats [villages] near the Chopra police station of the district
in the next 4 days. The decision followed the official announcement
declaring the block as bird flu affected. It was reported that
hundreds of birds died in the region over the past week, alarming the
district administration. The North Dinajpur animal husbandry
department officials promptly visited the 'affected' villages and
collected samples from the dead birds, which were later sent to a
Pune-based national laboratory. The laboratory report confirmed bird
flu in the area. The culling exercise is scheduled to commence
tomorrow [30 Mar 2009].

The deputy director of the North Dinajpur animal husbandry department,
Mr Sajal Bhunia, said that his department had formed around 40 teams
to complete the exercise at the earliest.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall

[The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of India is available at
<http://healthmap.org/r/007Q>.
North (Uttar) Dinajpur district can be located on the map of West Bengal at
<http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/west...l-district.htm>.
- Mod.MHJ]

[see also:
Avian influenza (04): India (WB) 20090108.0080
Avian influenza (02): India (WB) 20090104.0034
2008
----
Avian influenza, human (60): India (West Bengal), susp. 20080803.2379
Avian influenza (42): India (West Bengal) 20080309.0967
Avian influenza (23): India (West Bengal), Thailand (Phichit) 20080126.0328
Avian influenza (22): India (West Bengal) 20080123.0284
Avian influenza (19): India (West Bengal), Bangladesh 20080121.0260
Avian influenza (18): India (West Bengal), Iran (Mazandaran) 20080119.0245
Avian influenza (17): Iran (Mazandaran), India (West Bengal) - OIE
20080119.0235
Avian influenza (15): India (West Bengal), Iran (Mazandaran) 20080118.0224
Avian influenza (14): India (West Bengal) 20080117.0216
Avian influenza (11): India (West Bengal) 20080115.0193
2007
----
Avian influenza (80): India (West Bengal), susp 20070508.1485]
............................................jw/mhj/mj/jw
</pre>

[Giuseppe]

Re: India (incl. West Bengal) - Poultry (December 2008 -)

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, India (3/31/2009) [WAHID Interface - OIE]

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, India

Information received on 31/03/2009 from Mr Natarajan Gokulram, Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi, India

-- Summary
Report type Follow-up report No. 11
Start date 21/11/2008
Date of first confirmation of the event 27/11/2008
Report date 30/03/2009
Date submitted to OIE 31/03/2009
Reason for notification Reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence 11/2008
Manifestation of disease Clinical disease
Causal agent Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype H5N1
Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (basic), Laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to a defined zone within the country
Related reports
* Immediate notification (28/11/2008)
* Follow-up report No. 1 (11/12/2008)
* Follow-up report No. 2 (17/12/2008)
* Follow-up report No. 3 (19/12/2008)
* Follow-up report No. 4 (02/01/2009)
* Follow-up report No. 5 (13/01/2009)
* Follow-up report No. 6 (21/01/2009)
* Follow-up report No. 7 (02/02/2009)
* Follow-up report No. 8 (19/02/2009)
* Follow-up report No. 9 (04/03/2009)
* Follow-up report No. 10 (16/03/2009)
* Follow-up report No. 11 (30/03/2009)

-- New outbreaks

- Outbreak 1 - Chopra, Daspara, Uttar Dinajpur, WEST BENGAL
Date of start of the outbreak 17/03/2009
Outbreak status: Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Village
Affected animals: Species - Susceptible - Cases - Deaths - Destroyed - Slaughtered
- Birds - 363 - 363 - 363 - 0
Affected population Rural backyard poultry

-- Summary of outbreaks
Total outbreaks: 1
Outbreak statistics: Species - Apparent morbidity rate - Apparent mortality rate - Apparent case fatality rate - Proportion susceptible animals lost*
* Birds - 100.00% - 100.00% - 100.00% - **
* Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter
** Not calculated because of missing information

-- Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
* Unknown or inconclusive

-- Epidemiological comments
Epidemiological investigation is ongoing. Stamping out of all domestic poultry is being applied in an approximately 3-km-radius zone around the outbreaks followed by compensation of the owners.
An intensive surveillance campaign has been launched in a 10-km-radius zone including:
- closure of poultry markets and prohibition on sale and transportation of poultry products in the infected zone;
- disinfection of premises after culling and sealing of premises where appropriate.
Restocking will be permitted in accordance with protocol followed in this regard.

-- Control measures
Measures applied
* Stamping out
* Quarantine
* Movement control inside the country
* Screening
* No vaccination
* No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied
* Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)
* Dipping / Spraying

-- Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal (National laboratory)
Tests and results: Species - Test - Test date - Result
* Birds - real-time PCR - 26/03/2009 - Positive
* Birds - reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) - 26/03/2009 - Positive
Laboratory name and type National Institute of Virology, Pune (National laboratory)
Tests and results: Species - Test - Test date - Result
* Birds - real-time - PCR 27/03/2009 - Positive
* Birds - reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) - 27/03/2009 - Positive

-- Future Reporting
The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.
-

<cite cite="http://www.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=single_report&pop=1&reportid=7937" >WAHID Interface - OIE World Animal Health Information Database</cite>

[HenryN]

Re: India (incl. West Bengal) - Poultry (December 2008 -)

Updated map

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=p&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.00045da2c3c24f4d59de3&ll=25.275551,88.100009&spn=1.125072,1.768799&z=9

[Shiloh]

Re: India (incl. West Bengal) - Poultry (December 2008 -)

Source: http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/new...ote=1&p=207324

Fresh flu scare in N Dinajpur

;Statesman News Service
RAIGANJ, 22 MAY: Bird Flu scare may have broken out afresh at Kantore, Kasimpurand Chotokantore village under Hemtabad police station in North Dinajpur district with the death of about 300 country chickens in the past three days. Officials of animal husbandry department in North Dinajpur have collected samples of bird carcass and sent those for laboratory tests in Bhopal.
According to one Ajimul Hossain, a resident of Kantore, about 200 chickens died in their village and another 100 or so died in the neighbouring Kasimpur and Choto Kantore villages in the past three days. ?The birds showed symptoms of shivering and dripping fluid through the nose before dying,? he informed.
The disposal method of the dead birds in the affected villages is causing concern. ?With no experience in such matters, the villagers are disposing the dead birds all over the place. The carcasses are emitting foul smell and could lead to health problems if no steps are taken soon. We have urged the animal husbandry department officials to organise awareness camps to educate the villagers on the subject,? said Mr Saifur Rahaman, a local leader.
Yet to get to the bottom of the problem, the animal husbandry authority is equally worried with the whole situation. ?An animal husbandry team visited the affected villages in Hemtabad and collected samples of dead birds which would be sent to Bhopal through Kolkata for Bird Flu tests. We have appealed to the villagers to bury the dead birds and are monitoring the situation in the affected area,? said the deputy director, animal husbandry in North Dinajpur Mr Sajal Bhunia.

[Shiloh]

Re: India (incl. West Bengal) - Poultry (December 2008 -)

Source: http://www.thestatesman.net/page.new...ss=1&id=256102


Villagers stall bird culling

RAIGANJ, 29 May: The culling of poultry birds following the detection of a Bird Flu outbreak in North Dinajpur district had to be called off last night following villagers? resistance. The district authority had swung into action last night after receiving confirmation of the outbreak but had to halt the exercise in the face of a stiff resistance from the residents of Kantore village near Hemtabad.
The villagers pelted stones at the culling team and chased it away. According to officials of the animal husbandry department, Kantore residents refused to hand over their birds for culling against the prescribed government rate. They were demanding a higher rate. An altercation broke out between the members of the culling team and the villagers after which the villagers grew aggressive and chased away the culling team.
According to the Hemtabad gram panchayat pradhan Mr Saifur Rahaman, the villagers shifted a large number of birds from Kantore to other places last night to avoid culling. ?The administration should have tightened security to ensure no bird could be shifted before launching the culling exercise. Moreover, the administration should have organised awareness camps in the villages prior to undertaking the culling job,? he added.
Speaking on last night's incident, the deputy director, animal husbandry department in North Dinajpur, Dr Sajal Bhuniya, said: ?Despite last night's incident, culling began this evening. We have sought security from the administration for the job,? he claimed.
The district administration in turn claimed it had increased vigil to stop the movement of birds from affected areas. ?The police have been told to remain watchful so that birds are not moved out from the region. The panchayat and animal husbandry officials are organising awareness camps in villages and the health department teams are monitoring the health conditions of the residents,? said the North Dinjpur district magistrate Mr Ramanuj Chakraborty. ; SNS

[Shiloh]

Re: India (incl. West Bengal) - Poultry (December 2008 -)

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/ind...-again/359711/

Bird flu hits Bengal again
Surinder Sud / New Delhi June 01, 2009, 23:52 IST

Even as the threat of swine flu continues, a fresh outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu) has been reported from West Bengal.

About 20 backyard poultry birds were reported to have died on May 20 in the rural areas of Uttar Dinajpur in West Bengal, not far from the Assam and Bangladesh border.

These birds were confirmed on May 25 to have died of the most virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu. All the samples tested by the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal, and the National Institute of Virology, Pune, had tested positive for this virus.

The animal husbandry department formally notified the outbreak of bird flu in the area to the World Organisation of Animal Health(OIE) on May 28. It also told OIE that measures ? curbs on the movement of poultry products, screening and culling of domestic poultry in a 3 km radius around the outbreak spots ? have already been taken.

No vaccination or treatment of the affected birds has been resorted to, as part of the government?s strategy to tackle bird flu. The places of infection would be suitably disinfected.

The latest eruption of bird flu has occurred around six months after the last outbreak of this disease in Hajo, Rajabazar and Kamrup areas of Assam. About 325 birds had died of H5N1 infection at the time. Besides, over 52,000 birds in a 3 km area around these spots were culled.

The H5N1 strain of avian influenza was first isolated in 1996, in farmed geese in Guangdong province of China and subsequently spread to several countries, causing heavy poultry mortality and over 240 human deaths. India had remained free of this malady till 2006.

The first outbreak of bird flu in India had occurred in Navapur and Uchchal around the Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh border in February 2006. Since then, there have been several outbreaks in different parts of the country, causing huge economic losses, reckoned to be in excess of Rs 10,000 crore, to the poultry industry. The organised poultry industry is currently believed to be worth over Rs 30,000 crores.

Following successful containment of the disease in the epicentres of infection between 2006 and 2008, India had formally declared itself bird flu-free country on November 4, 2008. But this status did not last long. Barely 3 weeks later, the disease resurfaced in the Kamrup(rural) district of Assam.

[Sally Furniss]

Re: India (incl. West Bengal) - Poultry (December 2008 -)

Birds culled above target

Raiganj, June 1: The number of poultry culled in the flu-struck Hemtabad block of North Dinajpur has far outstripped the target set by the district administration as villagers from outside the culling zone brought in birds for fear of the infection spreading.

District magistrate Ramanuj Chakrabarty said after the disease was confirmed by a Calcutta laboratory on May 27, a three-kilometre radius was marked for culling with the centre at Kantore village, 17km from here.

?To begin with, we had targeted 14,000 birds and on the first two days?starting May 28?only 10,000 could be disposed of. We then decided that two more days would be required to complete the procedure,? the district magistrate said.

However, at the end of the fourth day yesterday, the number of birds culled stood at 22,000, far more than the target set. ?Since this had never happened before, we started making inquiries and found out that there were two poultry farms with a total of about 3.000 broiler chicken besides a large number of villagers just outside the culling zone. They too came forward with their poultry,? Chakrabarty said.

Ratan Barman, a resident of Kamlabari, said he along with people of his village had on Saturday spotted culling teams in the adjacent village.
?That was how we came to know that there was an outbreak of bird flu next door. We feared that our poultry too could get infected from there and so decided to give up our birds,? he said.

Barman said hundreds of villagers deposited their birds with people residing within the culling zone on Saturday night. ?We will recover the money from the persons who decided to keep our poultry for culling when the payment is made,? he added.

Earlier, the district administration was concerned about the slow rate of culling. The animal resources development department staff attributed it to information not reaching the villagers in affected areas and lack of awareness.

In fact, on May 28, several culling teams had been turned back and even stoned by villagers who had no knowledge about the outbreak.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090602/jsp/siliguri/story_11050769.jsp