About 30 birds have died in Ravanga locality in South District in the past two days due to unnatural reasons triggering fear about a possible outbreak of bird flu in the himalayan state.
Animal Husbandary and Veterinary Services Department Director K.C. Bhutia confirmed the death of over two dozen birds, including chickens, due to unnatural reasons in Ravangla area in the past two days, but refused to confirm the outbreak of birdflu in Sikkim.
The department was closely monitoring the unnatural mortality of birds, he told PTI here and added that a report from the central health authorities was being awaited to confirm whether these birds have died due to bird flu or other regions.
Sikkim had banned supply of poultry products from outside the state last month following the outbreak of bird flu in Malda district of West Bengal.
The state police had been conducting searches in vehicles at Rangpo and other checkposts bordering Sikkim to prevent supply of poultry products from outside.