New Delhi: Preliminary tests on samples of dead birds from Birbhum and South Dinajpur districts of West Bengal have confirmed bird flu.

Reports quoting an Agriculture Ministry official said that an outbreak could be declared once a confirmation is received from the Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal.

"We have received samples from two districts of West Bengal," confirmed High Security Animal Disease Laboratory’s Joint Director, S C Dubey.

"Scientists are handling the samples. As soon as we get the results they will be made available through the Government of India," he said.

Central teams have already been dispatched to the affected areas and as a precautionary measure, trade in poultry in Birbhum and South Dinajpur districts has been restricted. There's an alert in the entire state and villages in these districts have been quarantined.

Close to 10,000 chickens died in the last 10 days at Margram in Birbhum. Reports say that over 15,000 birds have perished since December 29 but apparently, the government took few measures at the time.