Guwahati, Dec 19 : The culling process of poultry in the bird flu affected areas in Assam is expected to be completed by this evening.

The disease has been identified in 12 locations in seven districts in the State.

According to State Director of vetenary Dr. Aswani Katoky, except few areas of Kharghuli, Sirang and Bongaigaon districts, culling has been completed in all other locations.

Around 450 thousand poultry birds have culled so far in the state. The affected districts will be kept under surveillance for at least three months to prevent recurrence of the bird flu.

No fresh report of spread of the disease has been received from anywhere in the State.

Veterinary officials have slaughtered over 300,000 chicken and ducks since late November, after the virus was detected in poultry last month in a village close to Guwahati.

The WHO has described the outbreak of bird flu in West Bengal last January, when more than four million birds were culled, as the worst ever in India. (ANI)