Two dead fowls at the chicken rearing centre in Bokaro. Picture by Pankaj Singh

Bokaro, Feb. 24: Following the death of 86 birds at a chicken rearing centre here today, the area has been cordoned off fearing bird flu attack.

However, the senior officials at the government-run centre — which only sells eggs and rear chicken — refuse to buy the bird flu logic at this stage. The dead birds — 136 in total in five days — were also sent to live research stock station in Ranchi.

On February 9, when the first death was reported at the centre — located in Sector XII — it was said that the death took place because of Fowl Carrizo, a disease said to be found common in chicken. But as nasal discharge of the affected ones was noticed before the death — the first symptom in bird flu — the officials are not rejecting the flu theory as well.

Dr Arun, posted at the centre, said that no doubt the death of chicken there is being reported each day but even in fowl cholera disease same type of symptoms are noticed. He added that the blood sample of the dead birds would be sent to High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal.

The centre-in-charge, Vijay Kumar Mishra, said that though the fowls were kept in five shades, death was reported from only one place.