03 December 2011
Nepal government has issued high alert against avian influenza after receiving confirmed reports an outbreak in dozens of chickens in Manahara river area of Bhakatapur district in the eastern part of Kathmandu valley. Some 500 birds including 250 ducks and 75 chickens were killed and dozens of eggs were destroyed after the incident. The samples sent to the laboratory at VLA, Weybridge, UK confirmed the presence of H5N1 virus in the birds. Similarly, reports have poured about birds falling sick from Thankot and Lazimpat in the outskirt of the capital city.
Bhaktapur is the second largest chicken producing district in Nepal with a daily production of 10,000 kg of chicken and 150,000 eggs.
The number of people coming for treatment of sick birds has also been rising over the past few days, according to the hospital sources.