Chitwan suffers loss of Rs 7 million worth of chicken, poultry products due to bird flu

Chitwan – Chitwan district suffered a loss of chicken and other poultry products worth more than Rs 7 million due to bird flu, according the District Livestock Service Office (DLSO). 

At least 2,500 chickens were slaughtered at Surtani of Khairahani Municipality-9 due to the avian influenza. Following this, 11,950 layer, 23 local and four broiler chickens, 144 ducks, 607 kilograms poultry feed and 12,726 eggs were destroyed after declaring the area an emergency zone, said Chief of the DLSO Chet Narayan Kharel. 

Of the destroyed chickens, a layer was valued Rs 500 each in prices, and those which stopped laying eggs Rs 300 each in prices. Layers worth Rs 5.6 million are estimated to have been destroyed. 

Central President of the Nepal Egg Producers Association Trilochan Kandel said a layer is sold for Rs 600 in the market, and a chicken which stops laying egg Rs 350. 
District put on high alert 

The Office said the safe management of poultry products in the affected areas has been completed. Poultry rearing in such areas has been banned for the next 42 days. 

However, export of poultry products from other parts in the district has not been prohibited. According to him, the H5N1 virus is now under control in the district. Regular medical inspection, checking and test are underway. Farmers have been called to remain cautious about biological safety. A medical technician team continues its monitoring. 

Properly cooked poultry products are safe for human health, office chief Kharel said, urging consumers to property cook poultry products before eating. Farmers have been advised to wear masks while working in farms. 

Veterinary Standard and Drugs Administration Office's chief Dr Dilliram Sedai who arrived here to join the safe management of fowls and poultry products said there is risk that the H5N1 virus may change its form in summer and cause problem, so farmers have been urged to focus on biological safety. 

The bird flu virus was first detected in Nepal in 2009 from Jhapa district and Chitwan reported the first case in the district in 2010. Four years ago, the virus had caused a huge loss to poultry business in this inner Tarai district. 

The central laboratory on May 14 confirmed the bird flu prevalence in Chitwan. 
Over Rs 70 billion has been invested in poultry farming in Nepal and over 50 percent is centered in the district.
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