The Government has also asked police, panchayats, district administration and municipalities to conduct raids at different places, apart from keeping a strict vigil to enforce the ban. The Government is awaiting for the results of samples of dead poultry from different parts of the state, many of which are likely to be positive.

“We are taking all precautions so that not a single human being is infected. Till now, no human infections have been confirmed. Reports for 23 human samples have been received, all of which are negative. Thirty lakh people are under surveillance and we are conducting door to door health checkups.” said Minister Surya Kant Mishra.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is expected to demand Rs 75 crore from the Centre when he meets Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The Government has drawn up a compensation package, which will be forwarded to the Union Government. The package includes waiver of loans of affected Self Help Groups, issuing fresh loans to the groups after the outbreak is controlled, Rs 500 per affected family, financial aid to traders, smallscale businessmen, shop and stallowners who deal with poultry.

Meanwhile, culling operations continued in South and North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly and other districts which recently confirmed the virus. The Government has directed hundreds of ARD staff, who participated in the culling, to complete their medications before returning home, after reports of the majority discontinuing their precautionary health programme.