Mangalore :  Reports of late indicate that there has been a sharp decline in the sale of chicken in the city  in the backdrop of bird flu fears. This in turn has hit hard the poultry industry.

In the recent few days, ever since the outbreak of bird flu in the CDPO premises at Hesaraghatta in Bangalore, resulting in culling of thousands of turkeys, there is some sort of panic and people fear to consume chicken and poultry products.

Some chicken dealers say their sales have plummeted even the hotel industry has reduced chicken dishes.

Even the wholesale price of chicken has seen a fall by  20 to 30 percent.