# 2619
The news coming out of Darjeeling - where bird flu was detected near Siliguri on Friday - isn't particularly encouraging, with new outbreaks being reported in `the hills' surrounding the area.
This latest outbreak is at Pubung, about 30 km from Darjeeling.
Bird flu spreads to Hills, culling begins
5 Jan 2009, 0211 hrs IST, TNN
DARJEELING: A day after culling operations began at Matigara near Siliguri, bird flu spread to the Hills, with officials confirming an outbreak of the dreaded poultry disease at Pubung, about 30 km from Darjeeling. Culling operations began on Sunday.
Sale and farming of chickens has been banned within a 10-km radius of Pubung panchayat in Takdah block. However, Darjeeling town itself is not under the purview of the ban.
The Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Laboratory confirmed the disease on January 2, but the news reached the district late and all through Saturday the administration got the teams together for Sunday's operations.
According to Darjeeling DM Surendra Gupta, over 700 chickens will be culled in two days.
The samples were sent to Bhopal after 35-40 chickens died mysteriously over the past week. "The high number of deaths prompted us to send the samples to Bhopal," said Gupta.
The test on the dead chickens confirmed the H5N1 virus and accordingly the state government was informed. The government issued a notification and instructed the district administration to carry out culling operations.
Meanwhile, in Siliguri, the sale and consumption of Poultry products has been temporarily banned.
Bird Flu: Poultry sale banned in Siliguri
Statesman News Service
SILIGURI, Jan. 4: With the outbreak of bird flu at Matigara, Phansidewa and the Rajganj blocks, the civil administration today put a ban on the sale and consumption of poultry items in Siliguri town.
As per the SDO Siliguri Mr Sharad Kumar Dwivedi, the ban has been imposed for an indefinite period beginning this noon and action would be taken for any violation. “The ban is effective within a 10-km radius of the Binoy Krishana Pally, Matigara where the bird flu outbreak was confirmed first. This implies that major part of Siliguri town is under the ban,” the SDO said adding that the administration would undertake a publicity drive to make the public aware.
According to him, the Siliguri wards 21-24 and 35-43 are not within the ambit of the avian flu as yet but the administration was keeping a cautious eye on these localities.
Culling
Culling of domesticated fowls in the bird flu hit Matigara and Phansidewa blocks in Siliguri subdivision and the adjacent Rajganj block in Jalpaguri district is progressing in a sluggish rate with mere 388 birds been culled until 5 pm today out of the total 18,000 target. The drive was initiated from 8 pm yesterday.
