NEW DELHI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Amid the outbreak of bird flu, a three-member federal government team Thursday reached southern Indian state of Kerala to assess the situation, officials said.

The team visited Alappuzha and Kottayam districts that witnessed deaths of poultry ducks over the past several days. The local government has already ordered the culling of the birds to contain the spread of bird flu in the state.

Officials said the culling of poultry birds was underway in both the districts at the hands of rapid action teams.

Local officials said there was no history of the H5N8 virus being transmitted to humans. However, as a precautionary measure, a ban on the sale of poultry meat and eggs has been imposed in the affected districts.

Reports said the local government has assured to compensate poultry farmers for the culling of birds.

Apart from Kerala, bird flu has hit four Indian states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana, killing crows, migratory and poultry birds.

The Indian government has issued an advisory to the states in wake of the bird flu urging them to remain vigilant. Enditem

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