KATMANDU, Feb 10: The rapid response team deployed by the District Veterinary Clinic, Kathmandu on Saturday culled all the remaining 2,610 chickens following confirmation of H5N1 virus in the poultry farm owned by Kishor Tandukar of Jitpurfedi- 1 Kathmandu.
The team that comprises vets and technicians also destroyed 1,000 kg of chicken feeds stored in the farm.
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The outbreak is the fourth in the last one-and-a-half months in the district, said the Directorate of the Animal Health (DoAH).
“Of the 4,000 chickens in the farm, the rapid response team has culled 2, 610,” said Dr Narayan Prasad Ghimire, senior veterinarian at DoAH, adding, “The remaining chickens died of infection.”
The Central veterinary Laboratory under DoAH confirmed on Friday that the chickens had contracted the virus. Following the confirmation, the district co-ordination committee led by Chief District Officer (CDO) Chudamani Sharma had taken the decision to cull the infected chickens. “We have responded on time,” he added.
A surveillance team had brought the samples on Friday morning for the analysis. Tandukar had informed the veterinary officials after scores of chickens started to die in his farm.
Dr Ghimire said that the risk of H5N1 virus spread is high during winter and hence the need for extra precaution. The directorate has urged all poultry farmers to take good care of the fowls. Fowls avoiding feed, standing still with head down and excreting saliva could be symptoms of H5N1 virus infection, said Ghimire.
DoAH said that the team has also completed first phase of disinfection at the farm. It has also urged poultry farmers to immediately inform vet officials if chickens started to die. DoAH, Kathmandu said it has intensified surveillance.
Earlier in December last year, the disease was confirmed in a poultry farm at Ramkot and Sitapaila VDCs of the district. The virus was detected in poultry farms in Dhading and Nuwakot, the adjoining districts of Kathmandu.
Meanwhile, DoAH has said that people can consume chicken and eggs without any hesitation, as all the infected chickens have been culled. The office has also appealed people to cook the chicken properly before eating.
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