Avian influenza among poultry in India spread to new districts as animal control officials struggled to contain the outbreak.
Reports in the last 24 hours suggested bird flu spread to the Birbhum and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal as culling in several districts continued, the Press Trust of India said Thursday.
Animal Resources Development Minister Anisur Rahaman said reports of poultry deaths in surrounding areas emerged though officials reported no bird flu symptoms.
Government reports suggest the culling of 26,000 birds took place, though region figures cite just more than 4,500 birds killed.
Rahaman said villagers opposed handing their birds over for culling because they wanted cash instead of government certificates of compensation.
Copyright 2008 by United Press International
