# 2677
Bordered by Nepal to its west, Bhutan to the East, West Bengal on the south, and with China on its northern border, the tiny Indian State of Sikkim is pretty much dead center in a bird flu hot-spot.
West Bengal, Assam, and most recently Nepal have all reported bird flu outbreaks over the past 30 days.
Therefore it is not terribly surprising that they have now detected the H5N1 virus among poultry in that state, and a call has gone out to begin culling.
Avian flu hits Sikkim, culling to start soon
Gangtok, Jan. 19: Confirming outbreak of bird flu in Sikkim’s south district, the government on Monday said culling of birds in the affected area will begin as soon as the Central team arrives either later on Monday or Tuesday.
Bird flu was confirmed by the High Security Diseases Laboratory in Bhopal after samples of 30 birds, which died at Ravangla in south district was sent to it, animal husbandry and veterinary services department joint director K.C. Bhutia said here.
"We are awaiting the arrival of a Central team following which the culling operations would start in the affected region in which between 5,000 and 8,000 birds will be culled," he said.
Besides the culling operations, measures have been taken to prevent supply of poultry products from Ravangla locality to other parts of the state, Mr Bhutia said.
The bird flu-hit areas will be disinfected with sprays to prevent the spread of the avian influenza, he said.
As compensation to poultry farmers, the state government will pay Rs 100 per adult bird, Rs 15 per chick and Rs 100 per dozen eggs during the culling operation, Mr Bhutia said. A 10-km radius from the epicentre of the bird flu breakout has been put under quarantine and the culling operations will be carried out within a radius of 3 km, principal secretary (animal husbandry) T.W. Barfungpa said.
Mr Barfungpa briefed chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling about the outbreak of the flu in the state and informed him that the deadly disease had spread due to unauthorised smuggling of poultry products from outside the state.
Precautionary and preventive measures have been taken by the department. —PTI
Meanwhile, in neighboring Nepal, the government is stepping up surveillance after their first ever confirmation of bird flu occurred over the weekend.
Govt declares 26 districts Bird flu prone region; more chickens culled
Kantipur Report
KATHMANDU, Jan 1 - With the outbreak of bird flu in Kakkarvitta in the eastern district of Jhapa, the government Monday declared 26 districts, bordering with India, prone to the spread avian influenza virus.
The government announced the region as highly sensitive to the bird flu, saying that the import and export of the livestock in the region is immense despite the ban imposed on it.
After the detection of bird flu virus in the Indian state of West Bengal, the Ministry of Agriculture has been regarding the districts adjoining with the Indian state as region to be kept on high alert.
However, the government has made it clear that the avian virus has not been detected in the regions other than Kakarvitta in Jhapa district.
Spokesperson at the Ministry Hari Dahal confirmed that despite the news reports of death of pigeons in Butwal in Rupandehi district the causes of the death has not been proven due to the avian virus.
The Ministry has called on everyone to remain alert in order to avert the spread of the virus to other parts of the country, Dahal informed. He added that police have started special check along the highways in the import of bird related items.
