January 19, 2009
Nepal confirms first outbreak of bird flu
Nepal on Friday reported its first outbreak of bird flu in poultry, confirming a case of the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus in the eastern part of the Himalayan country.
"Laboratory tests confirmed that chickens in one of the livestock farms died of the bird flu virus," health official Udaya Pratap Singh said from Kakarbhitta near the Indian border.
Singh said the tests, performed after a local farmer reported that 12 chickens died mysteriously on Thursday, confirmed the H5N1 strain of the virus. He said it was too early to say if there were any human cases.
"The area has been declared an emergency zone and surveillance has been increased," said Singh.
Singh said police have been mobilized along the border to stop poultry imports from India.
"We have started spraying disinfectant on vehicles coming from India and imports of chickens, ducks, birds, eggs and other poultry related items has been banned," he said.
