4.25 lakh birds culled in Assam, ops on

From a post yesterday:

India: No New Bird Flu Cases Reported OVER ONE CRORE RUPEE COMPENSATION PAID TO POULTRY FARMERS

PIB Press Release
Friday, December 19, 2008

...The cumulative figure of culling of birds so far in Assam is 3.91 lakh

20 Dec 2008, 2010 hrs IST, PTI

GUWAHATI: Culling operations in four bird-flu affected districts of Assam continued on Saturday with more than 4.25 lakh birds exterminated so
far.

The H5N1 virus has struck 120 villages in seven districts and the state government disbursed Rs 1,27,85,216 as compensation to the poultry farmers, official sources said.

The state government has decided to set up an expert committee to take appropriate measures to prevent similar outbreak among the avian population in future.

The state Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department along with the district authorities launched cleanliness drive and awareness campaign in the affected districts.

The department was also maintaining a strict vigil in other districts with the authorities directed to alert any unusual death among the avian population.

The state forest department has also directed forest personnel to monitor the migratory birds visiting the state during winter.

The seven districts affected by the avian flu are Barpeta, Chirang, Dibrugarh, Bongaigaon, Kamrup (rural), Kamrup (metro) and Nalbari with culling already completed in the last three districts.