While government authorities on Sunday confirmed the H5N1 strain of bird flu in Khanar and Itahari in Sunsari district, similar outbreaks were reported in Phakphok in Ilam district and Faktep in Panchthar, where more than 400 chickens have died.

However, fowls in the affected areas are yet to be slaughtered, increasing the risk of the infection spreading to other localities.