Bird flu in West Bengal has attacked new regions in affected zones of Howrah, Birbhum and Nadia, whereas a large number of chickens died in North 24-Parganas that is still not among the 13 affected districts.

District Magistrate Khalil Ahmed stated that poultry samples from Uttar Panchla village were screened positive at laboratory in Howrah, and new culling work started within the 5-km radius of the region.

In the last three days, the administration had plucked 1.5 lakh chickens until now in the area where bird virus had previously been reported in two blocks including Sankrail and another village of Panchla block, Mr. Ahmed said.

Official sources in the districts told that samples from Alunda village in Suri block-1 of Birbhum tested positive in Birbhum, and in Nadia district, where culling has been finished, flu extended to Kalyani.

Anisur Rahaman, Animal Resources Development Minister said that more than 4,000 chickens died at Baduria in North 24-Parganas region, next to Kolkata, with samples being sent to Bhopal.

Mr. Rahaman said that culling had been ordered in a 5-km radius of the newly affected areas.

In Nadia district, it spread to Kalyani with reports from Harijan pally Ward number 2. Culling would begin from Wednesday, he said.

Around 25 lakh chicken had been culled all over the State up till now, Rahaman said.

“The target may be little higher considering the fresh outbreak, but we have asked the districts to complete culling by (Wednesday),” he added.

The State administration also sought information from Bangladesh on the strains of the avian influenza to source the origin of the viral infection.