The outbreak is fourth in the last four days and seventh over the past one-and-a-half-months. The rapid response team that comprises vets and technicians had also destroyed 200 kg of chicken feed stored in the farm.[break]
The Directorate of the Animal Health (DoAH) said poultry farmer and their relatives do not give easy access to the vet officials for culling the chickens. Though the infection of H5N1 virus was confirmed on Sunday evening, the team culled the chickens only on Tuesday. DoAH officials said the rapid response team was busy on Monday destroying 7,500 chickens at Subarnan Basnet´s poultry farm at Manamaiju-1, Nepaltar.
According to Dr Narayan Prasad Ghimire, senior veterinarian at DoAH, over 14,000 tainted chickens have been culled over the last four days. He said the rapid response team has completed first phase of disinfection in all the tainted poultry farms.
The Central Animal health Laboratory under DoAH had confirmed infection after examining the dead chickens. DoAH said surveillance has been stepped up following the confirmation of the disease.
Ghimire said farmers should be aware as the disease has been spreading quickly. The DoAH said 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 chickens.
Chickens avoiding feed, standing still with head down and excreting saliva could be symptoms of H5N1 virus infection, said Ghimire. DoAH said that it has intensified surveillance. It has also urged poultry farmers to immediately inform vet officials if chickens start to die.
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