The Bihar government on Wednesday ordered culling of chicken in six panchayat areas in the Katihar district of Bihar, adjacent to affected Malda district of West Bengal, as a preventive measure, a day after imposing a blanket ban on entry of poultry from the neighbouring state.

There are, however, no reports of any instance of bird flu in Katihar and the culling in the six panchayat areas is a preventive measure, deputy chief minister Sushil Modi told PTI.

"We have received reports about a suspected case of bird flu at Mohammedpur in Malda district, about 5 km from Katihar. We are in constant touch with the West Bengal government about it," Modi, who is also in charge of the animal and fishery resources department, told PTI.

Katihar district authorities have been directed to coordinate with their counterparts in Malda and carry out culling of chicken in six panchayats identified as Khasota, Mimaua, Deogaon, Sitalpati, Garghatu and Anarsinghpur in Katihar district, he said. All these panchayats are close to Mohammedpur.

Modi said he was in touch with the Union health ministry and the state government had decided to procure Temflu, a preventive medicine for bird flu.

One hundred and fifty units of personal protection equipment are also being sent to Purnia commissionary and the Centre had been requested to send 500 more, he added.