Bird Flu Control Efforts Ongoing Amidst Challenges

Despite the government's all-out efforts to control bird flu, it has not yet been controlled in the urban areas of three districts of the valley including Kavre district. The pattern of bird flu infection and spread this time has been found to be different from other times.

Rato Pati has interviewed senior veterinarian Dr. Mukul Upadhyay of the Department of Animal Services on the role of the government and farmers in controlling bird flu.

Here is the edited excerpt of the interview with Dr. Upadhyay:

• Compared to previous years, bird flu used to be controlled relatively quickly, but why did it take longer to control the infection this time?

In previous years, bird flu infections were seen only in specific and limited areas, making it easier to control them quickly before they spread to other areas. This time, the situation became a bit different and complex. Currently, the main medium for the spread of infection has been wild birds, especially crows. As crows easily fly from one place to another, the disease spread rapidly.

In addition, in some places, farmers have been indiscriminately throwing dead chickens, and the infection has been further spread by dogs or other animals carrying these dead chickens.

Another major problem is the delay in reporting. Initially, when chickens started dying, farmers would hide the disease or throw them away indiscriminately, and only informed the department when the disease took a serious turn. Due to this delay, the virus had already spread to many places before we could take control measures.

• So far, which districts of the country have been most affected by bird flu, and what is the situation in those areas?

So far, bird flu infection has been confirmed in 11 districts of the country. We have completely controlled the infection in 7 of these districts. There have been no new cases there since then. In the remaining 4 districts, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, and Kavrepalanchok, some effects of the infection still remain.

Among these four districts, the infection in Lalitpur has become very low and the situation is moving towards control. In Bhaktapur and Kathmandu, new cases are still being seen sporadically. In the Banepa and Panauti areas of Kavrepalanchok, the infection has increased slightly. Overall, we are trying to control it, and the situation is gradually returning to normal.

• Bird flu seems to recur almost every year during a specific season or time. What is the main reason for this problem becoming regular?

The main reason for bird flu appearing regularly is related to wild and migratory birds. During winter, wild birds migrating from foreign countries to Nepal carry the bird flu virus with them. In some years, these birds transmit the virus to local or domestic poultry in Nepal, while in other years, they return without spreading the infection.

In some years, due to environmental suitability and the number of wild birds, the infection is seen more, while in other years it remains dormant. Therefore, it depends on the migration of external birds and the level of contact they have with domestic poultry here.

• How has the scope of commercial and local chicken farming changed in the Kathmandu Valley, and what challenges does it pose to biosecurity?

Earlier, by 'local chicken farming', we used to understand only 10-20 chickens raised in homes, but now local chicken farming in the Kathmandu Valley has also become commercial. Some farms have commercially raised 10 to 20 thousand local chickens.

Despite raising chickens in such large numbers, biosecurity measures have been found to be very weak. Chickens are transported without veterinary certificates, dead chickens are thrown away indiscriminately, and such negligence is occurring. Also, some farms in the valley are located near Shivapuri National Park or forests, near bamboo bushes, where birds like eagles, vultures, and crows roost. In such places, the possibility of disease transmission from wild birds to domestic chickens is very high.

• How is the department coordinating with other government agencies and local administrations to control bird flu?

We are continuously coordinating with the District Administration Office, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and local bodies, but there are certainly some practical difficulties in the control work. In some cases, when the technical team goes to destroy chickens in infected areas, local farmers or businessmen create obstacles. They obstruct the control work by not allowing their chickens to be culled, which delays the process.

In addition, the local administration needs to be more active in bringing those who transport chickens without certificates and dispose of dead chickens under the purview of immediate action. The cooperation of all state organs and the farmers themselves is equally necessary to make the control work effective.

• Due to the open border, some suspect that bird flu may have entered Nepal from India. What does the department's study say about this?

We need to be clear that the bird flu infection spreading in the Kathmandu Valley is not due to India or the open border. This infection has been introduced purely through migratory wild birds.

The Ministry of Home Affairs and local administrations have strengthened security and surveillance at the border areas, due to which the possibility of illegal import of birds or bird products through the border crossings is low. Therefore, the source of the current infection is contact with wild birds internally.

• Is it suspected that the bird flu virus seen in Nepal this year has a new strain? How is international reporting being done?

We have initiated the process of 'genomic sequencing' to find out whether the virus has undergone any new mutation this year. Only after the report arrives can it be officially stated whether the virus has changed its form or not. However, the symptoms and mortality pattern seen in the infected birds so far are similar to those of the common virus.

Regarding international reporting, we are transparent. We are regularly sending information about every incident of bird flu in Nepal to the World Organisation for Animal Health, and information exchange is continuously taking place at the national and international levels.