Many Rangoon residents have abstained from eating chicken after an outbreak of what was suspected as bird-flu, reports Chai Sayam from the border:

Black patches were found on the skins of some dead chickens which veterinarians have identified as symptoms of avian pastullarosis (A.P.), a kind of avian diarrhea.

“However, since the government obviously doesn’t think it is such an important matter,” said a vet, “both the business and the people are going to suffer.”

The price of chicken, generally around 2,500 3,000 kyat ($ 2.5 3.0) per viss (1.6 kg) has dropped to as much as 1,500 kyat ($ 1.5) in some shops. “People still refuse to buy,” said a shop keeper.

Bird flu or chicken flu can be spread to humans and have caused deaths in some cases.