Poultry death in eastern Nepal sparks fear of bird flu

The death of more than 1,000 chickens in two poultry farms at Halesimarga of Biratnagar in Morang district has triggered a fear of bird flu among the local people.

According to local media, 400 chickens from Dinesh Sitaula's farm and 600 chickens from Kiran Kafle's poultry farm have perished so far.

The chickens showed symptoms like bleeding, swelling of ear and head and excreting green and white watery discharge two days before they died.

Kafle said the dead chickens had been buried in a nearby ditch, adding that technicians from the District Veterinary Office, Morangin eastern Nepal, are conducting lab test on the perished chickens, but test report is yet to come.

Six dead chickens were sent to Regional Animal Disease Research Laboratory (RADRL), Biratnagar, some 240 kilometres east of Kathmandu, Friday (Feb 27).

There are seven poultry farms in Halesimarga area and the villagers have asked the veterinary office to testify whether or not the chickens died of bird flu.

RADRL chief Shadananda Dev said the samples tested negative and have been sent to Kathmandu for further tests.