500 chickens dead in Hooghly

West Bengal: Over 500 chickens have died in the Hooghly district of West Bengal. The government says it's the Ranikhet virus.

Samples from poultry in Hooghly have been sent to Bhopal and the Hooghly poultry farm owners have burnt the infected chicken.

"It is but natural to keep strict vigil also on international border areas to prevent any possible entry of infected chicken or chicken products specially from south east Asia," Animal husbandry Director S K Dasgupta said.

Das said so far no reports of avian flu had been reported from any part of the state.

Though reports came from Srirampore in Hooghly district about the death of 30 chickens in a poultry farm, Das attributed it to the Ranikhet virus.

(With inputs from agencies)