The District Livestock Services Office (DLSO) of Chitwan, the poultry basket of the country, has started taking precautionary measures to control possible outbreak of bird flu virus after H5N1 influenza was detected at the poultry farms in Pokhara. The office has stepped up surveillance at the various entry point of the district.

“Likewise, we have also directed the service centres in the district to remain watchful and increase inspection in their areas,” said Dr Dilli Ram Sedhai, chief of the DLSO Chitwan. “We have 14 service centres in the district and they regularly collect blood samples of local chickens and ducks in their area and send them to a laboratory for tests.” Till date no case of infection has been found, he added.   

A large number of people from different income groups have made an investment of around Rs35 billion in poultry industry in the district. The district is witnessing individual investments ranging from Rs100,000 to Rs 1 billion in the field. “Currently, these farmers are in distress as possible outbreak might lead to a huge loss,” said Sedhai. “But, we are on high alert and are testing samples every day.”

As Chitwan supplies poultry products to every parts of the country, the district is vulnerable to outbreak of virus due to possible contamination. “However, with a long experience in this field the farmers in the districts are aware about the possible outbreak,” Sedhai said. “They have been disinfecting the vehicles before they enter farm premises on return after transporting poultry goods to other districts.” 

The bird flu virus was detected in dead fowls at the poultry farm belonging to Mina Pariyar of Khaltemasina in Pokhara. The DLSO Kaski confirmed the virus in the poultry farm after laboratory tests. Samples sent to the Regional Veterinary Laboratory after Pariyar reported death of a duck on February 17, tested positive.

The sample was later sent to the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Kathmandu for confirmation. At least 17 ducks and 11 chickens have died in the farm so far. The local administration has already declared Khaltemasina area “bird flu infected area”.  The District Bird Flu Control Coordination Committee has imposed a ban on the trade and transport of fowls and poultry products for 42 days. A rapid response team from Kathmandu, led by Dr Abadhesh Jha, has already culled the infected fowls. According to Thagendra Prasad Aryal, information officer at the DLSO Pokhara, domesticated birds within the 500-metre periphery of Khaltemasina were culled.