Chicken feast in India despite bird flu disaster warning

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2008

MARGRAM, India (AFP) — Villagers in eastern India were buying up cheap chicken on Tuesday despite authorities warning of an impending bird flu disaster and probing whether the country may have its first cases of human infection.

West Bengal state's animal resources minister Anisur Rahaman said officials were "determined to cull all poultry in the districts in three or four days, otherwise the state will face a disaster".

Eight districts have been hit by the virus -- more than 100,000 bird deaths have been reported -- with teams racing to cull two million chickens and ducks.

Health officials in New Delhi said they were analysing blood samples from close to 800 people from the affected areas who have complained of fever.

If any of the tests are...