Chennai, Jan 20: No human beings have so far been
affected by bird flu in India, Health Minister Anbumani
Ramadoss said here Sunday.
"Not even a single case has been reported so far", he
told reporters here on the sidelines of a function.
Bird flu has been reported in five districts in West
Bengal. Since its outbreak on January 15 in Birbhum, bird flu
has spread to western and northern areas of the state. The
government has also stepped up culling operations.
Ramadoss said the Centre had instructed the west
Bengal government to destroy all birds in the affected
districts to control the disease.
He said people in Tamil Nadu need nor harbour any
fears about being affected by the disease as no cases of bird
flu have been reported in the state.
The minister also said there were no cases of anthrax
disease (caused by the bacteria bacillus Anthracis) in Tamil
Nadu.
Bureau Report
First Published: Sunday, January 20, 2008, 00:00