Local authorities slaughtered around 300 fowls and destroyed poultry products at Khaltemasina area in Pokhara-18 after laboratory tests confirmed H5N1 influenza virus in a poultry farm in the area.

According to Thagendra Prasad Aryal, information officer at the District Livestock Services Office (DLSO), a rapid response team slaughtered 252 chickens and 41 ducks reared in two dozen farms in “bird flu infected area” on Saturday and Sunday. Poultry products and feed were also destroyed to contain avian flu, he added.   

The bird flu virus was detected in dead fowls at the poultry farm belonging to Mina Pariyar of Khaltemasina.

The DLSO confirmed the virus in the poultry farm after the lab tests. Samples of a dead duck sent to the Regional Veterinary Laboratory and Central Veterinary Laboratory in Kathmandu on February 17 returned positive. 

On Saturday, the local administration declared Khaltemasina area “bird flu infected area” and imposed a ban on the trade and transport of fowls and poultry products for 42 days. 

“We have asked local people to care about the sanitation. We are in regular monitoring and surveillance of the infected area,” said Aryal.