The Directorate of Animal Health (DoAH) said that it is the second outbreak over the last two days. [break]
Earlier on Monday evening, vet technicians had culled 1,465 chickens in a poultry farm owned by Amar Karki of Mulpani-3, Kathmandu following detection of bird flu virus. DoAH said the chickens in Lamichhane´s farm tested positive for bird flu on Tuesday evening.
Dr Bijaya Kant Jha, Director General (DG) at DoAH said that the office could not deploy rapid response team immediately to Lamichhane´s farm as they were all busy in disinfecting Karki´s farm at Mulpani. "We will complete disinfection by Wednesday evening,” said Dr Jha. He said Lamichhane brought samples of dead chicken for laboratory examination after chickens stopped eating feed and started dying.
Bol Raj Acharya, chief of district veterinary office, Kathmandu said that surveillance has been intensified across the country. He said surveillance officer deployed by DoAH have been collecting suspicious samples.
DoAH has urged all poultry farmers to take proper care of their chickens. The office has urged poultry farmers to immediately inform vet officials if chickens demonstrate suspicious behavior. Chickens infected with bird flu virus avoid feed, stand still with their head down and drool.
Meanwhile, DoAH has said that people can consume chicken and eggs without fear. They claimed that all the infected chickens and eggs have been destroyed. The office has also appealed to the locals to cook their chicken properly before eating and also to wash their hands with soap after contact with chickens.
DoAH said over 70 bird flu cases have been detected in poultry farms across the country since 2009.
Related story
Bird flu detected in eight places of Chitwan
