No human beings had been affected by bird flu in India so far and no cases have been reported, Union Health Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss said in Chennai on Sunday.

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

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

Dr 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 had 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.