At least 1,250 chickens were culled yesterday afternoon at a poultry farm at Char Poghaldiya in Sharishabari upazila of Jamalpur after bird flu was detected at the farm.

The bird flu control room sources said Humayun Kabir, the owner of the Rishat Poultry Farm, sent sample birds to the central lab in Dhaka for testing as birds started dying at his farm. The lab-test confirmed avian influenza infection at his farm. Following the confirmation, the livestock officials culled all the chick-ensathisfarm.

Dr Vidyut at the bird flu control room said the warm temperature is helping them control the virus. He however claimed, "The situation will improve after a torrential rainfall." The control room sources said rapid response teams have been checking farms even in remote areas to find suspected bird flu affected farms.

Our Khulna correspondent reports that the bird flu situation remains stable in 10 districts of Khulna division.

The virus has so far been detected at only one poultry farm at Sharsha upazila in Jessore where 76 birds were culled earlier.

Dr Abdul Hye, deputy director of livestock department of Khulna, claimed that the Sharsha incident was an isolated incident.

Bio security measures have been stepped up at poultry farms and hatcheries in Khulna division, he added.