# 1581
At least three times in the past week we've heard that the bird flu crisis in West Bengal was `under control', and each time, within hours, a new outbreak would make the news.
A week ago, when the West Bengal officials first declared the `situation in control', only 9 districts were battling the virus. Today that number is (take your pick) either 13 or 14 districts, with other states reporting dying birds.
‘No new cases, situation in control’
By OUR CORRESPONDENT
Kolkata, Jan. 24: With no fresh areas coming under the grip of bird flu, the state government on Thursday heaved a sigh of relief. Wary and worried about the impact of the avian influenza in the state’s poultry industry, the government authorities said with Bankura out of the deadly grip of the H5N1 virus and two other districts likely to be immuned soon, it will take four to five days to curb the virus menace in the state.
"The outbreak is under control. There is no report of the disease spreading to new areas," state animal husbandry minister Anisur Rehman said after meeting chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya.
Yesterday the news reports were stating that the virus was `spreading at an alarming rate'. . .Today, the situation is, once again, "under control".
Who knows?
If the Indian government keeps repeating this mantra, one day they may be right.
Bird flu in West Bengal "under control", officials say
Jan 31st, 2008
KOLKATA (Reuters) - Authorities in West Bengal fighting a serious outbreak of bird flu said the situation was under control on Thursday, echoing the sentiments of the United Nations influenza coordinator.
To underline their confidence, health officials urged residents of Kolkata, the crowded state capital, to eat chicken if they so fancied.
"We have allowed a dozen farms to sell poultry products in the city after close examination -- their products are safe for eating," said Deb Dwaipayan Chattopadhyay, a senior health official. "Do not panic at all."
Anisur Rahaman, the state's animal resources minister, said the outbreak was under control, and that he was now getting fewer reports of suspicious bird deaths.
Bird flu has spread to 13 of West Bengal's 19 districts since the outbreak was confirmed more than two weeks ago.
Laboratory results have confirmed that the deadly H5N1 strain is responsible for the outbreak in at least two of the districts; officials think tests will confirm the same strain in the other districts too.
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