Out of 2,000 chickens at Rai´s farm, about 600 had already died due to the infection.
Rai had taken dead chickens to the district veterinary office after the chickens at his farm started dying. The Central Animal Health Laboratory confirmed the virus on Monday evening.
"After the laboratory gave positive report, we immediately deployed rapid response team to destroy the chickens in the tainted farm," said Bhola Raj Acharya, chief of Kathmandu DVO. The team will also dispose of chicken feed, eggs and droppings. Acharya said that the meeting of district co-ordination committee led by chief district officer had also decided to cull tainted chickens and disinfect the farm.
Officials at the Directorate of Animal Health (DoAH) said that the rapid response team comprising vet technicians will continue the works until they cull all the chickens in the tainted farms.
"We have just started works. Detailed report can be given only after we complete the works," Dr Bijaya Kanta Jha, of DoAH, said.
According to Dr Jha, the outbreak is the first in the last one-and-a-half months. The office said that the country has witnessed over 80 bird flu outbreaks since 2009. The office said that these outbreaks had been detected in Jhapa, Taplejung, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Dhading, Nuwakot, Chitwan, Rupandehi, Kaski, Nawalparasi, Kailali and Kathmandu.
Meanwhile, 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 they detect chickens displaying suspicious behavior. Chickens infected with bird flu virus avoid feed, stand still with their head down and drool.
The office has also appealed to the public to cook their chicken properly before eating and also to wash their hands properly with soap after touching any chicken.
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