According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the virus that causes bird flu has been found in 60 countries while only 633 persons of different 15 countries were found infected by the virus.[break]
WHO stated that worldwide as many as 377 persons lost their lives and they are from China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Laos, Nigeria, Turkey, and Vietnam.
The people suffering from the disease were infected not because they eat chicken or any poultry products but due to their involvement in transporting, working in poultry farms, butchering, and treatment of different birds, it is stated.
The different departments under the Ministry of Agricultural Development confirmed bird flu infection in 59 poultry farms from 18 districts as of Friday.
The cases of bird flu infection have been reported in different poultry farms in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur districts since July 17.
Tens of thousands of people have been directly and indirectly involved in poultry related business. Around 50 billion rupees has been reported to be invested in this business in the country.
Around 5,000 metric tonnes of meat (chicken) is consumed across the country daily and 250,000 kilograms of it is consumed in Kathmandu Valley alone, said poultry entrepreneur, Janga Bahadur BC.