Officials confirmed first outbreak of bird flu in poultry in the eastern part of Nepal. They added that bird flu was reported in poultry from the crowded southeast Nepal town of Kakarvitta, bordering India.

Health official Udaya Pratap Singh said that the tests, performed after a local farmer reported that 12 chickens died mysteriously on Thursday, confirmed the H5N1 strain of the virus. He said it was too early to say if there were any human cases.

Government has taken quick steps to stop further spreading of this disease. Sources revealed that veterinary workers have been sent to the region to cull 13,000 poultry in five days to try to control the virus within a 3 km (1.8 miles) radius of Kakarvitta town.

Singh said, "We have started spraying disinfectant on vehicles coming from India and imports of chickens, ducks, birds, eggs and other poultry related items has been banned."