# 2523
The outbreak of bird flu among poultry in India's north eastern Assam State continues to expand, now affecting Kamrup, Barpeta and Nalbari districts, with more than 100,000 birds reportedly culled.
It should be noted that the actual number of districts affected is in dispute, with some media reports mentioning 6 or more districts seeing suspicious bird deaths. Confirmatory test results have been slow in coming, however.
Today's article refers to `About two lakh more need to be culled' - a lakh is 100,000. So another 200,000 birds are likely to be destroyed - assuming the outbreak doesn't spread beyond the currently affected area.
This report from New Kerala.
Culling continues in Assam, as bird flu spreads
Kamrup (Assam), Dec 8 : At least 100,000 birds have been culled in Assam after bird flu began to spread in an alarming manner.
More than 100,000 chickens and ducks have been be slaughtered over the weekend in around 20 villages, after one of them, just 35 km of Guwahati, was hit by bird flu.
Authorities are worried about a new outbreak after some poultry deaths were reported in Palasbari.
"It is around between two to three lakh. About two lakh more need to be culled," said S L Mewara, the state's commissioner of veterinary and animal husbandry department.
The virus has now spread to Barpeta and Nalbari districts besides Kamrup district.
Samples sent earlier to laboratories in Bhopal had tested positive or H5N1 avian influenza.
The State Government ordered culling operations and officers began going from house to house urging villagers to hand over their poultry.
Sale and movement of poultry in and around Guwahati has been prohibited and precautionary measures stepped up in other parts of the state.
Migratory birds from Siberia and Myanmar are believed to be the carrier agent of the flu to Assam.
India has not reported any human infections so far, though the first outbreak in poultry was reported in 2006 in Maharashtra.--- ANI
