Bhutan reports outbreak of H5N1 bird flu at Samdrup Jongkhar: Report

The flu outbreak killed free-ranging birds reared within a temple complex in Samdrup Jongkhar.

Bhutan has reported an outbreak of H5N1 bird flu virus, according to Reuters.

Citing the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said on Tuesday that the highly pathogenic virus killed 36 out of 60 free-ranging birds reared within a temple complex in Samdrup Jongkhar.

Samdrup Jongkhar is located in the south-eastern part of Bhutan, bordering the state of Assam in India. It is 200km away from the capital Thimphu and tourist belt in western Bhutan.

According to the report, the remaining birds were slaughtered.

"The birds were brought from unknown sources illegally and kept within the temple complex. The disease is so far confined within the temple complex owing to strict enforcement of control measures," the report said.