Over 22,000 poultry birds have been culled since Tuesday in east India's bird flu-hit West Bengal, Xinhua quoted Indo Asian News Service as reporting. "About 22,500 chickens and ducks have been culled till Saturday night in Malda district," India Animal Resources Development (ARD) Minister Anisur Rehman said Sunday. "Major part of the culling operation was over Saturday night. Whatever little is left, veterinary workers will complete by Sunday night," Anisur Rehman said. India ARD had set a target of culling about 25,000 poultry birds in the affected areas of Malda, about 350 km from Kolkata. India veterinary workers started the culling operations Tuesday after blood samples of dead poultry in this area tested positive for avian flu. This is the second time the disease has hit Malda district. An outbreak of bird flu had been detected in the district in March and more than 50,000 birds were culled. In January, over 200,000 poultry birds were culled in several West Bengal districts.
