Indian state bans poultry trade to curb bird flu

Authorities in eastern India banned the trade and consumption of poultry on Tuesday to stamp out a bird flu outbreak that officials said was now nearly under control.

In other parts of South Asia, authorities battled to contain the virus. Pakistan tested 12 workers from a farm where the H5N1 virus was found in poultry, while Bangladesh's capital was gripped by panic after dead crows were discovered. The World Health Organization has said India's outbreak was its most serious outbreak yet, but state authorities in West Bengal were optimistic the disease had peaked. There have been no reported human infections.

"We have decided to ban consumption and sale of poultry throughout the state until further notice," Anisur Rahaman, West Bengal's animal resources minister, told reporters. Previously, poultry sales had been banned in the 13 of West Bengal's 19 districts where the H5N1 virus had been detected, but now the ban was extended to the whole state as officials tried to ensure there would be no further outbreaks.

More than 3.4 million birds have been culled in West Bengal since the H5N1 virus was first reported last month, state officials said. Egg exports from the world's second largest producer have also dropped about 50 percent, leaving the industry with losses of around $20 million, trade officials said.