India and Bangladesh struggle to rein in bird flu spread

By Bappa Majumdar

KOLKATA, India (Reuters) - Villagers at the centre of a bird flu outbreak in India's east refused to hand over their chickens and ducks for culling on Thursday, hampering efforts to stamp out the disease in poultry.

But in neighboring Bangladesh the culling of thousands of fowl went on smoothly after the virus was detected in three more districts.

In both countries the virus seemed to be spreading with fresh bird deaths reported from new areas. Neither country has reported any human infection.

Veterinary workers coaxed villagers at the centre of an outbreak in India's West Bengal state to hand over their poultry and observe hygiene practices needed to limit the spread of what the World Health Organization says is the worst bird flu outbreak in India.

The latest outbreak in West Bengal has affected three districts, but officials said the infection could be more widespread as they waited for test results of more birds.

In the quarantined West Bengal village of Margram, villagers told a Reuters photographer their birds were not infected and that they were unhappy with a dollar-a-bird compensation.

Many let loose their ducks and chickens so that veterinary workers found it difficult to catch and kill them.

"We have asked our officers to resolve all disputes and speed up culling," said Sanchita Bakshi, a West Bengal health official, said.