In a worrying development, hundreds of crows have died in Jharkhand due to bird flu, a government official said Thursday.

The crows first started dying mysteriously last month in Jamshedpur district. This was followed by their deaths in Ranchi, Bokaro, Khuti, Sahebganj and other districts of the state.

Setting the alarm bells ringing for the MCD, 17 blood samples collected from pigs in the national capital by the civic body have tested positive for the Japanese Encephalitis virus.

MCD health committee chairman Dr V.K. Monga said the civic body has decided to send another 100 samples for testing.

The District Livestock Office, Parsa, has observed high alert for protection from bird flu.

The Cabinet, late on Friday, declared the western area of Lokanthali, the Manahara bridge area and slums adjoining the bridge 'bird-flu emergency areas.'

Nepalese health workers have culled hundreds of chickens and ducks following the first reported outbreak of bird flu in the capital Kathmandu, a government official said yesterday.

The Health Ministry has put in place high alert programme in 26 districts, which are reported to be the most vulnerable for bird flu outbreak.

Ranchi: The Centre has sent an alert to the Jharkhand government to remain cautious about a possible poultry infection, after a mysterious bird flu-like virus is believed to have killed between 500

Transmission of the deadly H1N1 swine flu virus was the fastest in the national capital, while the infection was most fatal in Maharashtra.

DURGAPUR, 8 NOV: Nearly 500 chickens died in the Kulti area of Asansol in three days spreading apprehension of Bird Flu outbreak in the area.