Siliguri (WB), Feb 26: Authorities in West Bengal have said about 5,000 birds would be culled after Siliguri reported cases of H5N1 strain of bird flu virus.

The cases were sent to a testing lab in Bhopal and results were positive. Officials said they would begin culling soon.

"The culling operation will be carried out within a three kilometers radius. We have not yet received information on bird census. Tentatively 5,000 need to be culled," said Kausturi Sengupta, acting Sub Divisional Officer, Siliguri.

Officials have also put a ban on the buying and selling of the hens or other poultry products within a span of three kilometers.

India has reported no human infections.

Bird flu first broke out in India in 2006 and millions of chicken and ducks have been culled since to contain the virus, but it has resurfaced from time to time. (ANI)