The Karnataka government has said that tests have confirmed the loss of 206 chicken and 17 ducks that died at the Central Poultry Development Organization at Hesaraghatta near Bangalore after were affected by the highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) virus. Talking to reporters in Bangalore on Monday, Principal Secretary of the Animal Husbandry Department said that the outbreak has necessitated the culling of over 33,000 birds – 19,235 chicken, 13,673 ducks and 369 emus. He said that ten teams are involved in surveillance work in the 10-km-wide affected zone. Twenty five rapid response teams have been activatede in the culling and disposal of the birds on the CPDO farm.