KATHMANDU, Dec 25: The rapid response teams of District Animal Health Office Kathmandu on Tuesday destroyed over 19,000 eggs after bird flu was confirmed in a Kathmandu-based poultry farm.
The central veterinary laboratory under the Directorate of Animal Health (DoAH) had confirmed bird-flu virus in the poultry farm owned by Subirman Singh Basnet of Ramkot-6, Kathmandu two days ago.
DoAH said 2,500 chickens in Basnet´s farm had already died due to disease and the team only found 19,444 eggs sent to hatchery. Basnet had informed the veterinary officials after chickens in his farm started dying. Samples of dead chickens had been sent for laboratory analysis.
"We did not find any live chicken in his farm. He told us all the dead chickens had been buried," Narayan Prasad Ghimire, a senior veterinarian at DoAH said.
A meeting of the district co-ordination committee led by Chief District Officer (CDO) held Tuesday morning had decided to destroy the eggs and disinfect the farm.
Ghimire said locals have been alerted about possible spread of the disease. The team will destroy poultry droppings and continue disinfecting the farm on Wednesday as well.
The veterinary laboratory had also confirmed a strain of H5N1 virus in a poultry farm in Dharke of Dhading two weeks ago. The district rapid response team had culled 3,000. The virus had also been detected in a poultry farm of Bode, Bhaktapur some two months ago.
DoAH has appealed to the locals to cook the chicken properly before eating. "Be sure the chickens and eggs are well cooked before eating," Ghimire added. He said there is a high possibility of the outbreak of bird flu during the winter season.
Bird flu outbreak in Nepal
January 2009 in Jhapa
February 2010 in Pokhara and Tanahaun
April 2010 in Nepalgunj, Rupandehi, Dang and Chitwan
December 2011 in Pharping of Kathmandu and Manohara of Bhaktapur
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