Sankhuwasabha, January 28:

District Animal Health Office, Sankhuwasabha, has sent the samples of birds, who had died due to a mysterious disease in Chepuwa and Hatiya VDCs over the past two months, for laboratory tests in Kathmandu.

Chief of DAHO Pushpa Bahadur Budhathoki said, “We sent the samples to Kathmandu, as they couldn’t be tested here,” he said, adding, “We can control the spread of the disease after identifying it.”

After the outbreak of bird flu was reported in Kakarbhitta of Jhapa, the DAHO has prohibited the consumption of chicken in the district until the mysterious disease was identified. The affected VDCs border China.

Over 3,000 birds have already died in the VDCs, as it was not reported to the DAHO on time. The disease has affected all the wards in the two VDCs, according to the office.

As a precautionary measure, the DAHO has prohibited the purchase and sale of chicken in district headquarters Khandbari and the adjoining areas. It has also banned the import of birds and poultry products from other districts.

The ban has affected the sale of poultry products in the district. The decline in the sale of chicken has directly affected poultry entrepreneurs, the Sankhuwasabha Chambers of Commerce and Industries stated. Over 20,000 birds have been brought for sale in Khandbari alone.

Meanwhile, concerned stakeholders in the district have formed a working committee to prevent the outbreak of bird flu. The committee, led by CDO Tulasi Prasad Gautam, will launch awareness against bird flu.