By NNN-PTI
Kolkata : Birdflu was detected Sunday in South 24 Parganas and West Midnapore taking the number of affected districts to 13 out of a total 19 in West Bengal.
Authorities of the two districts confirmed the spread of avian flu and told PTI that culling operation would begin today . (Monday)
West Midnapore District Magistrate N S Nigam said samples of chicken sent from Chakbelcha village in Debra block of Kharagpur subdivision had tested positive.
In South 24 Parganas the disease tested positive in Budge Budge, District Magistrate Sanghamitra Ghosh said.
Nigam said 40 teams would start culling operations in five km radius of Chakbelcha today.
Meanwhile, birdflu spread to Baro Khalasamari at Mathabhanga block in affected Coochbehar district, where the disease had hit four villages in Dinhata bocks I and II.
In the affected district of Howrah, avian flu spread to Panchla in addition to Sankrail. Reports from the district said a fox and other birds like falcon were found dead there.
About 15.75 lakh hens and cocks have already been culled so far out of the target of 22 lakh in 11 districts and 1.25 lakh had died, West Bengal Animal Resources Development Minister Anisur Rehman said during the day. (One Lakh:100,000)
“The rest of the birds would be culled today,” he said.