Bird flu: samples from Sikkim test negative

The fear of spread of bird flu in different areas of Sikkim was allayed as the blood samples of chickens who had died recently at Maaling in North district tested negative in the Animal Disease Diagnostic laboratory in Bhopal,an animal husbandry department official said on Thursday.

Animal Husbandry Department Joint Director K C Bhutia said that about 40 birds were found dead in the locality last week triggering fear of spread of bird flu in that region. Earlier this month,about 33 birds had died due to avian influenza in Ravangla locality in South District,he said.