ABBOTTABAD, March 31: The Abbottabad Cantonment Board has directed poultry shop owners to close down their businesses after traces of bird flu were found in the district.

It also directed people to cull birds in their houses and bury them if they found traces of the disease in them.

Sources said a large number of chickens and other birds were found dead in different poultry farms a few days ago and after confirmation of reports from the health department, the cantonment board issued the above directives.

It also directed chicken sellers to close their shops and advised people not to buy poultry products till precautionary measures were adopted.