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Kolkata: Authorities in eastern India on Tuesday banned the trade and consumption of poultry in an attempt to stifle the outbreak of bird flu, which Indian health officials say is almost under control.
"We have decided to ban consumption and sale of poultry throughout the state until further notice," said Anisur Rahaman, West Bengal's animal resources minister.
More than 3.4 million birds have been culled in West Bengal since bird flu was first detected last month.
"Culling is almost over and we are now conducting mopping up operations in the infected areas," Rahaman said.
Disinfecting villages affected by avian influenza could continue for several weeks, he said. "But the overall situation is totally under control."
Authorities believe the virus could have originated from Bangladesh, where officials are struggling to contain a massive outbreak of bird flu.
"We are keeping a watch on our borders with Bangladesh and other states as the idea is to minimise the chances of bird flu spreading," Rahaman said.
Meanwhile, in neighbouring Pakistan, 12 workers from a farm where bird flu was detected in poultry are being tested for the virus, a Health Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.
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