Thousands of chickens in the West Bengal district of Murshidabad are being culled as veterinary officials announced they have detected the second outbreak of the deadly H5N1 avian flu virus to occur in the region this year.
Colorized transmission electron micrograph of Avian influenza A H5N1 viruses (seen in gold) grown in MDCK cells (seen in green). Credit:Cynthia Goldsmith/Centre for Disease Control and Prevention
More than one million birds were slaughtered in January as a precautionary measure however officials had assured locals that the outbreak was under control.
However over 900 chicken and ducks were recently discovered to have died in the Murshidabad district in the last fortnight as veterinary officials battled to prevent another bird flu outbreak from spreading.
Transmission electron micrograph of influenza A virus, late passage. Credit: Centre for Disease Control and Prevention
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