Meanwhile the state Health Minister Surya K Mishra denied any case of suspected human toll or infection from the H5N1 virus that has gripped fowls in eight districts.

“We’re mobilising rapid response teams (RRT) from eight states including Maharastra, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Orissa to supplement the efforts of the West Bengal government. The target of culling has been raised to 21 lakh birds which will be achieved within a week,” Union Animal Husbandry and Resources secretary Pradip Kumar told newsmen at the state secretariat here.

With the report of the avian influenza spreading to Maldah and North 24 Parganas districts and culling efforts not gaining the required speed, Kumar rushed to the city and held meetings with senior officials to arrest further spread of the disease.

To a question on whether the disease has afflicted any humans, he said there had been no report of that so far. His contention was supported by Mishra who denied the reports of an 8-year-old boy, from Kaliganj, dying due to the flu and of five people quarantined with symptoms.

“We don't have a single concrete suspected human infection case also and there is no reason to panic.The blood test of five people showed up negative,” he said.

The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), New Delhi, responsible for carrying out screening, confirmed that all five human samples tested negative.

Clinical symptoms
“The samples which were taken from South Dinajpur and Birbhum did not have any clinical symptoms of the disease,” NICD Director Shivlal said.

Amidst all this, there has been growing apprehension in several quarters including neighbouring states that the disease could really spiral out of control as the culling process has been inordinately slow.

Reports from the affected districts said that dead birds are being sold and locals said to be “feasting” on cheap chicken.

Bihar bans poultry import
Patna, DHNS: As the dreaded H5N1 bird flu spread to more areas in neighbouring West Bengal, the Bihar government pressed alarm bells and put a blanket ban on import of poultry. ”All the routes through which birds are brought to Bihar have been sealed,” said Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who also holds the portfolio of Animal Husbandry Department.

Though the district magistrates of bordering districts like Katihar, Purnia and Araria have been asked to maintain a strict vigil in their areas, the district administration of Kishanganj has been put on high alert as it shares the border with Siliguri district in West Bengal.