Authorities have decided to slaughter fowls in Hetauda Metropolis-7, Makwanpur, after bird flu, also known as H5N1 influenza virus, was detected in the area.

Chief District Officer Asman Tamang, businessmen and farmers have decided to slaughter poultry in the metropolis to prevent possible outbreak of the influenza, and to compensate the farmers.

Authorities are going to slaughter 41, 500 fowls from 33 poultry farms in the metropolis. A team of veterinarians has been deployed in the affected areas and their vicinity to inspect and control the spread.

On Thursday, the local administration had put a ban on selling chickens and eggs after the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development confirmed bird flu virus in samples collected from dead chickens from a laboratory.

More than 15,000 chickens died of bird flu virus at various poultry farms at Hetauda-7 in February this year. Fifty farmers run poultry farms in the affected area.