Culling begins in bird flu-hit area today

Jhapa, January 17:

Culling of birds in the ‘bird-flu crisis-hit area’ in Kakarbhitta of Mechinagar Municipality-10 will begin tomorrow. Jhapa assistant CDO Laxman Prasad Hamal said over 13,000 birds in the three kilometres radius of Mechi Customs Office would be culled in from tomorrow.

According to chief of district livestock service office Dilip Sapkota, a team of specialists led by Dr RK Khatiwoda arrived in Jhapa from Kathmandu today.

Dr Sapkota said that a control room had been established in Mechinagar Municipality building

today.

Assistant CDO Hamal said the bird flu outbreak was discovered after 8-10 chicken belonging to Ramesh Karki of Mechinagar Municipality-10 died mysteriously in the second week of January.

Teaming up in tens, the specialists would cull the birds. The government has decided to compensate for that.

Sapkota added that they were cautious not to let the disease spread to other areas.

A meeting held here today made a decision to ban sale of poultry products, Hamal said.

According to district livestock service office, 350 poultry farms and 1,35,000 chickens had been kept under watch.

Police said the watch had been extended to Damak and bordering Gaurigunj as well. The import of birds has also been banned in bordering areas of Ilam.

Local administration said public awareness campaigns had been launched in some places of the district. After the outbreak in Jhapa, officials in districts that share border with India have also been kept on alert.

Administration has extended its watch over the import and export of birds in Morang’s Biratnagar, Rupandehi’s Sunauli, Parsa’s Birgunj, Nepalgunj’s Rupaidiya, among others.

Our correspondent said that officials in Chitwan district, which is flourishing in poultry farming, have also been kept on alert.