<p>Kolkata: The West Bengal government is keeping a vigil on poultry imports in the wake of the bird flu outbreak in Andhra Pradesh, a minister said on Friday.</p>.<p>Bengal Animal Resources Development Minister Swapan Debnath said the department is aware of the situation.</p>.<p>"We are aware of the situation and keeping a strict vigil," the minister told <em>PTI</em>.</p>.<p>He, however, did not announce a ban on imports of poultry items from the southern state.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, there are growing concerns over the potential impact of the outbreak of avian influenza in Andhra Pradesh on West Bengal's poultry sector.</p>.<p>Notably, West Bengal sources eggs from Andhra Pradesh.</p>.No need to panic over bird flu, measures to control disease in place: Andhra minister.<p>The West Bengal Poultry Federation assured that stringent surveillance has been in place since November last year to prevent the virus from entering the state.</p>.<p>The outbreak has also started affecting poultry sales in Bengal, with markets witnessing fewer buyers As a result, chicken prices have dropped to Rs 200 per kg, down from Rs 220 just a few days ago.</p>.<p>Despite the decline in prices, demand remains weak as uncertainty over the virus persists, traders said.</p>.<p>According to a doctor, bird flu is common during this period, but the virus generally does not transmit to humans.</p>.<p>There is a risk of virus transmission among those who handle birds, but experts do not see any risk in consuming cooked poultry meat, as the virus gets killed in extreme heat.</p>.<p>Andhra Pradesh minister K Athcannaidu had on Wednesday said there was no need to panic over the outbreak of avian influenza in the state as measures to control it are in place. </p>
<p>Kolkata: The West Bengal government is keeping a vigil on poultry imports in the wake of the bird flu outbreak in Andhra Pradesh, a minister said on Friday.</p>.<p>Bengal Animal Resources Development Minister Swapan Debnath said the department is aware of the situation.</p>.<p>"We are aware of the situation and keeping a strict vigil," the minister told <em>PTI</em>.</p>.<p>He, however, did not announce a ban on imports of poultry items from the southern state.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, there are growing concerns over the potential impact of the outbreak of avian influenza in Andhra Pradesh on West Bengal's poultry sector.</p>.<p>Notably, West Bengal sources eggs from Andhra Pradesh.</p>.No need to panic over bird flu, measures to control disease in place: Andhra minister.<p>The West Bengal Poultry Federation assured that stringent surveillance has been in place since November last year to prevent the virus from entering the state.</p>.<p>The outbreak has also started affecting poultry sales in Bengal, with markets witnessing fewer buyers As a result, chicken prices have dropped to Rs 200 per kg, down from Rs 220 just a few days ago.</p>.<p>Despite the decline in prices, demand remains weak as uncertainty over the virus persists, traders said.</p>.<p>According to a doctor, bird flu is common during this period, but the virus generally does not transmit to humans.</p>.<p>There is a risk of virus transmission among those who handle birds, but experts do not see any risk in consuming cooked poultry meat, as the virus gets killed in extreme heat.</p>.<p>Andhra Pradesh minister K Athcannaidu had on Wednesday said there was no need to panic over the outbreak of avian influenza in the state as measures to control it are in place. </p>