Two separate teams, led by a first class magistrate, searched local houses at Pramanikpara, Mandolpara, Mollapara and Shibpur areas from 8:00pm to midnight and culled the birds, district Livestock office sources said.

Earlier, a sample of dead chicken was sent to Joypurhat Animal Disease Laboratory for a test that detected the virus.

Later, the test result was sent to Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute at Savar in Dhaka for confirmation.

On Thursday, the deputy commissioner's office received a faxed message from the institute, which said that poultry birds and pigeons in the areas have been affected with bird flu.