# 2630
Nearly six weeks ago the first reports of unusual bird deaths started filtering in from Northeastern India. First Assam state, then West Bengal.
Since then we've seen a series of culls, followed by even more outbreaks.
Today, news wires are confirming new outbreaks in Darjeeling, and fresh culling operations have been ordered.
The short history of this virus has showed that once it gets a good foothold in an area, it becomes almost impossible to eradicate. Nations like Vietnam, Indonesia, and Egypt have spent the last several years locked in what must feel like a Sisyphusian struggle against the virus.
This is the second winter in a row where a large number of outbreaks have occurred in this region. A fact that, no doubt, must be giving many Indian officials a good deal to worry about.
This from the Times of India.
Fresh outbreak of bird flu in Darjeeling
7 Jan 2009, 1640 hrs IST, IANS
KOLKATA: A fresh outbreak of bird flu was reported in Darjeeling on Wednesday prompting the authorities to restart culling operations, an official said.
"We have started culling operations at Rangli Ranglikot area of Darjeeling. This time a total of 7,000 poultry will be culled," district magistrate Surendra Gupta said over telephone.
Gupta said the blood samples of dead poultry from the area sent to the High Security Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Bhopal had tested positive for avian flu.
"We got the reports on Wednesday that confirmed that the dead birds had H5N1 virus," Gupta said.
About 31,000 poultry have already been culled at Matigara in Siliguri subdivision and Pubang in Takdah of Darjeeing sub-division of the same district after avian flu was confirmed in the areas on Saturday.
The development came 18 days after bird flu struck Malda district in the state.
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