Updated on Sunday, January 20, 2008, 00:00 IST

Chennai, Jan 20: No human beings have so far been affected by bird flu in India, Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said here Sunday.

"Not even a single case has been reported so far", he told reporters here on the sidelines of a function.

Bird flu has been reported in five districts in West Bengal. Since its outbreak on January 15 in Birbhum, bird flu has spread to western and northern areas of the state. The government has also stepped up culling operations.

Ramadoss said the Centre had instructed the west Bengal government to destroy all birds in the affected districts to control the disease.

He said people in Tamil Nadu need nor harbour any fears about being affected by the disease as no cases of bird flu have been reported in the state.

The minister also said there were no cases of anthrax disease (caused by the bacteria bacillus Anthracis) in Tamil Nadu.

Bureau Report