The deadly bird flu virus has taken more Assam regions under its jaws although more than 200,000 poultry birds have been culled during the last two weeks.

New bird flu cases have been detected at Khanapara in Guwahati, Dikom region of Dibrugarh district in Upper Assam and Bejera area of Kamrup district.

The districts witnessing the bird flu outbreak include Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Dibrugarh, Nalbari, Barpeta and Chirang.

According to Assam’s veterinary and animal husbandry department, “Bird flu in a firm in Khanapara was confirmed after 30 birds perished in the last few days. The virus was also confirmed in the Dikom area in Dibrugarh district. The confirmation came after 300 chicks died recently. We will start culling operation of the birds in the farm from Thursday.”

Sources in Kamrup metro region said that health authorities had already imposed ban on sale and movement of poultry in and around the city.

“We have also put the health officials on alert to deal with health-related cases,” the source said.

The veterinary officials also said that around 40,000 poultry birds will be culled in Dibrugarh.

In Kamrup district, bird flu has been confirmed in Jalah village under Bejera region.

The officials added that the culling process in Jalah will also begin on Thursday.

Bird flu was also noticed a Thakurchuba, Sarpara, Patgaon and Rampur under Kamrup district. More than three lakh birds are to be culled in the various regions.

The World Health Organization fears that the H5N1 strain could transform into a form easily transmitted between humans and spark a pandemic.