The DoAH said that a rapid response team killed 2,500 chickens in a poultry farm owned by Suman Adhikari of Ramkot-8, Kathmandu on Friday afternoon. The team has also destroyed 350 kg chicken feed stored at the farm. Adhikar´s farm had 3,500 chickens out of which 1000 had died due to the disease. [break]
Likewise, another team of vet technicians culled chickens in the poultry farm of Dev Singh Maharjan of Kritipur-12, Kathmandu. The vet technicians were busy destroying chickens and droppings at Maharjan´s farm until Friday evening. The DoAH said that a separate team of vet technicians have culled 10 bird flu tainted local chickens at Thankot, Kathmandu.
The office has culled over 6,800 virus infected chickens on Monday at two poultry farms. "We are busy culling chickens. The operation will continue until we clear the farm properly," said Bola Raj Acharya, chief of District Veterinary Office (DVO), Kathmandu. Acharya said that surveillance officers deployed from the DoAH have brought samples to Central Animal Health Laboratory to know the cause of the death. The DoAH has stepped up surveillance of poultry farms in the Valley.
Meanwhile, price of chicken increased by Rs 10 in the capital on Friday. Now, consumers have to pay Rs 280 per kilo of chicken. Entrepreneurs said that price has risen due to short supply. "Supply has been down. Poultry farmers have been terrified by the spread of virus," said Jung Bahadur BC, chairman of National Chicken Seller Association.
Meanwhile, DoAH has urged all poultry farmers to take proper care of their chickens as the disease has been spreading rapidly. 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 heads 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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