In the News : India steps up vigil as bird flu spreads

Bappa Majumdar reported:

KOLKATA, India (Reuters) - Veterinary staff in eastern India are capturing chickens in night-time raids on the backyards of homes to surprise villagers unwilling to part with their poultry as an outbreak of bird flu spread.

Bird flu has spread to 13 of West Bengal’s 19 districts, with samples of dead chickens testing positive in two new districts, officials said on Monday.

“It is very difficult to contain the virus among backyard poultry as villagers hide their chickens and even smuggle it to homes of distant relatives,” said Anisur Rahaman, the state’s animal resources minister.

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