The veterinary workers in Assam on Saturday geared up to start culling of poultry in five districts bordering West Bengal and Bangladesh, both hit by avian influenza.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the Centre had asked the State Government to cull all poultry within five kilometers from the border with West Bengal in Dhubri and Kokrajhar districts in western Assam. Besides, he added, the Union Government advised similar measures along the international border with Bangladesh in Karimganj, Cacher and Hailakandi districts in southern Assam.

“This is just a precautionary measure as both West Bengal and Bangladesh have been hit by bird flu. Our State is still free from this disease,” said Mr Gogoi.

He said the veterinary officials in all the five districts have been instructed to immediately start culling of poultry birds and destroy eggs as well as to make arrangements for paying compensation to the poultry farmers.
Sources in the State’s veterinary department said that around one lakh poultry birds would be culled in Dhubri and Kokrajhar bordering West Bengal.

Meghalaya on alert
Meanwhile, the Meghalaya government has sounded an alert following an outbreak of bird flu in Assam. Officials said on Saturday that the state government has banned the import of poultry to prevent the H5N1 virus from spreading further.

“We have set up check gates on the entry points to the state and along the Indo-Bangla border. The veterinary department has been asked to take all possible preventive measures,” D Khonglah, a senior officer with Animal and Husbandry Department, said.