The Agriculture Department in Lata in the eastern Solomon islands province of Temotu is investigating the sudden deaths of dozens of chickens on Santa Cruz Island.
The department has so far received reports that 40 chickens in a dozen different villages have died suddenly.
A spokesman for the department, Titus Nume, says they have put in place quarantine measures to contain the unknown disease.
Mr. Nume says it's the first time there has been such an outbreak around the island and they have sought additional expertise from Honiara to try and isolate it.
