Shekhar Regmi

Biratnagar, February 12

The District Veterinary Office, Morang has banned the import of all kinds of birds and their products from India through the Biratnagar transit point.

Fearing an outbreak of an epidemic of the infamous bird flu from birds or their products, the office has prohibited the import of avian products. The DVO has informed the the quarantine check post at the transit point regarding this prohibition.

Referring to the prohibition, acting chief of the check post, Dr Ashoka Simha, said, "Morang is out of risk from this disease."

Prior to this, through the check post, eggs, chickens and many wild birds used to be imported daily in huge numbers. The DVO source said that only goats, buffaloes and fish are being brought in.

The DVO has trained its staff, employed in 17 service centres and sub-centres about the prevention and precautionary measures to be taken abut bird flu. Chief of the DVO, Dr Yogendra Thakur said that the office is gathering information and launching awareness programmes on daily basis, so that if any threat is felt, it could be easily thwarted.

According to the DVO, more than .3 million chickens exist in about 500 poultry farms in the district. The DVO has been spraying KHORSOLINTICH, a disinfectant, once a week in the pens.

The condition of all the poultry firms in the district is normal. However, the DVO has prepared itself to meet any emergency. Though the DVO has made it clear that consuming chicken would not mean contracting the disease, the sale of chicken from fresh houses in Biratnagar has dropped by 50 per cent.

Those who are in this business said their business has been affected by rumours. According to them, if similar circumstances exist for some more days, 55 such fresh houses will be in a critical situation.

"I used to sell 30 kg of chicken daily. But now, not more than five kg," said Sabir Khan Monsuri of Modern Fresh House.

Abroul Fresh House, Bhagbal Fresh House and others in Biratnagar that used to sell huge amounts of chicken are facing 50 per cent fall in their business. This drop is mainly being attributed to a fall in demand from hotels.