KATHMANDU, June 23: Bird flu has been detected in 82 locations across 11 districts, including the Kathmandu Valley, which authorities have identified as a hotspot for the disease.
Issuing a press statement on Monday, Director General of the Department of Animal Services (DoAS), Umesh Dahal, urged the public to remain vigilant as outbreaks of avian influenza continue to be reported in various parts of the country.
According to Dahal, bird flu was first detected in Morang during the third week of March. Since then, the infection has spread to 11 districts, including Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Mahottari, Bara, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Kavrepalanchok.
Bird flu detected at two locations in Morang
The disease has now been confirmed in all three districts of the Kathmandu Valley. A recent outbreak at the Central Zoo in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, prompted authorities to temporarily close the facility to visitors.
The DoAS reported that 569,858 birds infected with bird flu have been culled over the past four months. In addition, 989,313 eggs and 195,485 kilograms of poultry feed have been destroyed as part of containment efforts.
While the outbreak has largely been brought under control in the Koshi region, Kathmandu has emerged as the country's current hotspot, according to the DoAS.
The DoAS has called for public cooperation in containing the disease and urged poultry farmers to strengthen biosecurity measures. The DoAS advised against using old paper crates for egg storage and stressed that vehicles entering farm premises must be thoroughly disinfected beforehand.
Farmers have also been urged to keep domestic birds confined and prevent contact between poultry, feed and wild birds, including crows. In response to the rising number of cases, the DoAS has made veterinary certification mandatory for the transportation of birds and bird products.
Apart from highly pathogenic avian influenza, cases of low pathogenic avian influenza, Newcastle disease (Ranikhet disease) and E. coli infections have also been reported in birds. Citing these diseases as additional causes of bird mortality, the DoAS has advised farmers to ensure regular vaccination.
The DoAS has further requested the public to immediately notify the nearest animal service office if birds fall sick or die unexpectedly.
