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Thursday, December 20, 2012

Bird-flu confirmed in Dhading farm


 
 
KATHMANDU, Dec 20: The government has confirmed bird-flu in a poultry farm in Naubise-1 Dharke of Dhading on Thursday. 

The Central Animal Disease Investigation Laboratory (CADIL) under the Directorate of Animal Health (DoAH) confirmed that the samples of dead chickens were collected on Monday from the poultry farm owned by Laxmi Pokharel.

“We have formally confirmed the attack of the avian influenza at the farm, where around 3,000 heads of six months old broiler chicken died over a week,” said Dr Narayan Ghimire, spokesperson of DoAH.

After symptoms of bird flu were detected, the government mobilized Emergency Disease Investigation Team on Wednesday to initiate the disease control and containment process.

“Today (Thursday) a Rapid Response Team (RRT) has reached the infected farm to carry out the cleaning, disinfection and disposal of poultry products in a bid to control the possible spread of the fatal fowl disease,” said Ghimire. The RRT was deployed to the scene following instructions from Chief District Officer of Kathmandu District invoking Bird-flu Control Order 2007.

The team is tasked with removing poultry manure, eggs and feeds other poultry products from the infected farm.

The RRT led by Dr Arjun Aryal, includes ten veterinary technicians from CADIL and Dhading District Livestock Services Office. The RRT is expected to complete its task by Friday.

Another team also has been mobilized on Thursday to conduct a search and surveillance operation in other farms in the area around the infected farm.
He said process to provide compensation to the poultry farmer will be initiated after assessment of loss incurred due to the disease.

A total of 25 cases of bird-flu outbreak have been recorded in Nepal since 2008. The first case of the disease was reported in Jhapa.