Kolkata: Surveillance has been stepped up in poultry farms across West Bengal following the death of 2,500 poultry birds in a private farm near Siliguri in north Bengal over the past four days.

"Even though the initial post-mortem reports do not suggest bird flu as the cause, we are not taking chances. Samples have been sent to the High Security Animal Diseases Laboratory in Bhopal and a report is expected within five days," the Animal Resource Minister Anisur Rahman told The Hindu here on Tuesday.

The month-long vigil along the State's border with Bangladesh to curb the smuggling of chicks and birds from that country — where there have been reports of bird flu attacks — has also been intensified, Mr. Rahman said.

"All the required precautionary steps are being taken and there is no cause for alarm," he added.

However, news of the deaths caused panic in Siliguri and reportedly affected the sale of chicken in the local market.

The farm where the deaths occurred is about 25 km from the Indo-Bangladesh border. It has been sealed.

"Initial reports suggest that the deaths might have been caused by Ranikhet disease; the probability of bird flu is very low," the Minister added.

Employees of the farm have undergone medical check-ups, according to the local authorities, who added that the farm was overcrowded.

The dead birds have been buried according to the instructions of the district administration.

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