August 6, 2013

Nepal confirms H5N1 bird flu outbreak in local poultry farms

Nepalese authorities confirmed H5N1 outbreak in five more poultry farms in the Bhaktapur district, as the government mulls over the extension of a ban on poultry products after a rapid increase in bird flu cases.

With this, the number of poultry farms confirmed to have been infected with bird-flu has risen to 19 in the area.

According to the District Veterinary Office, the avian influenza virus was confirmed in the poultry farms of Bir Bahadur Bhusal in Balkot, Kiran Suwal in Jhaukhel, Narayan Hari Khatri in Sallaghari and Ram Lama in Sudal.

Earlier, 15,000 chickens were culled after the H5N1 virus was confirmed in Narayan Hari's poultry farm in Nangkhel. According to Khagendra Bhatta, Chief of District Veterinary Office, Bhaktapur, there are around 25,000 chickens in Kiran Suwal's farm.

Since the first outbreak in a poultry farm in Matatirtha and Chabahil on July 16, the virus has claimed over 100,000 chickens in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur districts. The capital has witnessed 32 bird flu outbreak in the past three weeks.

Following the reports of the H5N1 strain of bird flu in poultry farms in the Bhaktapur district, the government has imposed ban on the poultry products in all three districts of the Valley.

Meanwhile, price of goat meat reached up to US$8.20/kg on August 4 due to the ban. Until a few days ago, goat meat was selling at US$7.16/kg.

With rising demand for goat meat, the price of live goat has soared. Since August 4, live goats at Khashi Bazzar in Kalanki were selling for US$4.30-4.40/kg. On August 2 and 3, they were selling for US$3.79-3.83/kg.

Ballu Balram Khadgi, proprietor of iKalu Meat Centre at New Baneshwor, said his shop has witnessed a sharp rise in sales of goat meat. "After the government banned the sales of poultry products, customers are compelled to go for goat meat," said Khadki, adding the store, which used to sell around 40kg of goat meat daily, is now selling around 100kg.