Culling to be completed in West Bengal

Mopping drive is underway in West Bengal to complete the culling operations in the birdflu-affected districts of the state on Saturday with steps are being taken to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

State Animal Resources Development Minister Anisur Rehman said that in Berhampore 27 lakh birds were culled till today and the rest one lakh would be culled on Saturday.

After culling ends in areas hit by avian influenza, all possible measures would be taken to disinfect the coops, the residence of poultry owners and their neighbourhood, he said.

Amid reports of culling teams leaving without undergoing the mandatory quarantine in Murshidabad and Birbhum districts, the Centre has 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, he said.