KATHMANDU, March 24: Bird flu (H5N1) has been confirmed in commercially reared chickens in two local levels of Jhapa, prompting the District Administration Office to issue a high-alert public notice. Following the detection of the virus in farms in Damak Municipality and Jhapa Rural Municipality, authorities have declared these areas as containment zones and sealed all four directions to prevent further spread.
According to the notice issued by Acting Chief District Officer Tej Prasad Prasai, the movement of birds, eggs, feed, and other poultry products from the affected areas has been completely banned. According to authorities, “highly pathogenic” bird flu was detected in layer chickens at an agriculture farm in Damak Municipality–10. All the chickens at the affected farm were culled on Monday after the infection was confirmed.
Detecting bird flu
Reports of poultry deaths have also come from Mechinagar and Arjundhara municipalities. Preliminary rapid tests conducted on samples collected from farmers returned positive results, and samples have been sent to the central laboratory for PCR testing to confirm the diagnosis, Dr. Bhattarai said. Neighboring districts Morang and Sunsari have also reported cases, putting Jhapa at high risk for bird flu.
Bird flu was first reported in Nepal in January 2009 and has since appeared repeatedly in various districts. In April 2019, one human death due to bird flu was confirmed in Nepal.
Although primarily a disease affecting birds, H5N1 can infect humans through direct contact with infected birds, their droppings, or meat, according to the World Health Organization and health experts. Farm workers and slaughterhouse employees are particularly at risk. Human infection can result in high fever, coughing, sore throat, and severe respiratory symptoms, including pneumonia.
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