Plagues,
Pestilences and Diseases
Nepal culls tens of thousands of poultry after bird flu
found
From correspondents in Kathmandu
AFP
February 05, 2012 7:35PM
HEALTH workers in Nepal are to cull tens of thousands of chickens
and other poultry following the discovery of the H5N1 strain of
bird flu in the southeastern part of the Himalayan country.
"We sent samples for investigation to London after chickens
started to die of a mysterious disease in commercial poultry
farms," said Ram Krishna Khatiwada, of the government's
Directorate of Animal Health.
"We have received the test reports today that confirms infection
of bird flu in poultry farms in Khanar and Ithari of the Sunsari
district."
Bird flu has also been confirmed in the eastern hills of
Panchathar district and the tea-producing area of Ilam, Katiwada
told AFP, adding that surveillance of farms was to be stepped up
and tens of thousands of chickens and other poultry would be
killed in the affected areas.
"There has not been infection to humans in the area so far.
"Some have complained of itching and vomiting but that is only
panic. We will get the situation under control in one or two
days."
Nepal's first reported outbreak of bird flu in poultry was in
January 2009 in the eastern part of the country.
The virus reached the capital Kathmandu for the first time in
December last year, with health workers culling hundreds of
chickens and ducks.
If it spreads to humans, bird flu can cause fever, cough, sore
throat, pneumonia, respiratory disease and sometimes death.