Sudden death of chickens sparks bird flu fear in south Nepal

　KATHMANDU, March 3 (Chinese media) -- More than a dozen chickens belonging to two poultry farms in south Nepal district died of an unidentified disease triggering fear of bird flu outbreak in the area, local newspaper The Himalayan Times reported on Tuesday.

The chickens died in the farms owned by Ramdev Mandal in Mirchaiya and Ramsewak Mahara in Materwa in Siraha district, some 150 km south of Nepali capital Kathmandu.

Eleven chickens from Mahara's farm and eight from Mandal's farmdied on Sunday night, the report said.

The District Livestock Service Office of Siraha has sent a team of veterinarians equipped with necessary medicines to the area, according to Dr. Mohammad Mustafa of the office.

"The chickens might have died of cold. However, the reason for the deaths could be ascertained only after tests," he said.

Ram Kripal Shah, deputy assistant technician at Area Livestock Service Office, Ramnagar Mirchaiya, said the area was under close watch.

Meanwhile, meat-sellers in the area have started selling chicken at a reduced price, suspecting that the chickens might have died of bird flu.