Authorities on Wednesday said bird flu virus was not detected in the dead chickens in Satherjhora-8, around 15 km south-west of the two bird flu outbreak sites in Sunsari. It was reportedly claimed that around 500 chickens had died in the past three days in the Satherjhora area from an unknown disease.

“Samples of dead chickens sent to the Regional Laboratory, Biratnagar, have confirmed that the death of the chickens was due to worms, not bird flu,” Chineshwor Meheta, the Animal Health Technician at the District Veterinary Office, said.