A range of precautions were instituted including a large cull of chickens, eggs, and poultry birds, the imposition of segregation zones, and a disinfection programme for the plant.

[citation needed] The government put a blanket ban on the movement of poultry birds from West Bengal 5 February 2008, but repealed it a week later.

[11] The World Organisation of Animal Health stated that the villages of Rampurhat, Nalhati, and Mayureswar in Birbhum initially reported the outbreak on 4 January 2008.

[3] However, local officials did not notify the central government of the "hundreds" of dead birds reported by villagers in Rampurhat as early as 15 December 2007.

[6] The next wave known to have affected West Bengal through reports from the World Organisation for Animal Health began in August 2011, reaching Nadia on 14 September.

[21] The culling workers hired by either the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare[12] or the ARD[2] had no medical training, no testing equipment, and left the jobs when they did not receive the expected compensation of ₹50.

[22]: 39  The government began issuing leaflets by 25 January 2008 in an effort to educate the public, while the Border Security Force closed the Dharla River ferry and police officers accompanied culling workers to prevent any retaliation from villagers.

[23] However, poultry farmers smuggled birds from the area due to low compensation from the government, leaving officials to raid the farms at night.