Sankhuwasabha, December 29:

Over 2,000 birds have died of an unidentified disease in Chepuwa and Hatiya village development committees in Sankhuwabha district.

The disease that broke out two weeks back has gripped all the wards except Ward No 9 in Chepuwa VDC and half of them in Hatiya VDC.

“The disease, which first appeared in Chepuwa-4, killed 30 of my hens,” Aangjung Bhote, a Chepuwa resident, who arrived at district headquarters Khandbari to buy medicine, said.

According to Bhote, the hens died after being unable to eat or walk for two days.

Lather Bhote, headmaster, Him Shikhar Primary School in Hatiya, said villagers had stopped eating chicken after the outbreak.

Meanwhile, vet Himal Pokharel said experts would be sent to the affected VDCs as soon as possible.