# 1504
The reports coming out of West Bengal continue to indicate that the outbreak(s) there are not contained, and that they are spreading.
This from AFP.
Signs of India bird flu spreading, official warns
9 hours ago
KOLKATA, India (AFP) — Villagers in eastern India are continuing to eat chickens killed by bird flu and there are signs the virus may be spreading among poultry, an official said.
West Bengal animal resources minister Anisur Rahaman told AFP the situation in the affected areas was "horrible", and that more suspect cases had been reported on the state's borders with Nepal and Bangladesh.
"The ignorance of villagers is one of the main hurdles. They are carrying the dead chickens without any protective gear," he said.
"Most villagers are not aware of the disease. They are eating the dead chickens. Their children are playing with the infected chickens in the courtyards. It's horrible," Rahaman added.
Six districts in West Bengal state have reported outbreaks of avian flu among poultry.
People typically catch the disease by coming into direct contact with infected poultry, but experts fear the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus may mutate into a form easily transmissible between humans.
Rahaman said there were fears it could be spreading further afield in the state, with suspect poultry spotted in the hill resort of Darjeeling on the border with Nepal, and in several villages in Coochbehar bordering Bangladesh, which is also fighting a bird flu outbreak.
"Blood samples of the dead poultry have been sent for tests. We are awaiting the report," he said.
The epicentre of the outbreak is Margram village, 240 kilometres (150 miles) from the state capital Kolkata.
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