Jhapa poultry farmers nervous after detection of bird flu

Jhapa poultry farmers nervous after detection of bird flu

By Our Correspondent

Jhapa, Feb 15 The locals and the poultry farmers of Jhapa are panicked by the recent detection of bird flu virus at several parts of the district after chickens of these areas started dying in large number. The locals and farmers of Maharanijhota, Tadhandubba, Kumarkhod and Saradamati VDCs are living in fear of contacting the deadly virus after a large number of fowls died at their vicinity and farms. The detection of the bird flu virus was confirmed at the several poultry farms of Charpaney, Arjundhara and Pathadhara VDCs. As a result, the locals of other VDCs are worried suspecting that their poultries would die of flu virus. However, the Regional Veterinary Service Office and District Veterinary Office are yet to complete culling of chickens from the bird flu affected areas of the district. According to the armed police base camp, Tadhandubba, the farmers have been reporting that chickens are dying in an alarming way at the VDC. For the last few weeks, some 150 chickens died at the poultry farms of Tadhandubba-7. Likewise, more than hundreds of chickens died at the poultry farm of Setumari, Kumarkhad and those dead chickens were sent at District Veterinary Service Office (DVSO) with the help of Local Veterinary Service sub-Center. The DVSO urged the locals not to get panicky about the bird flu till the time the flu virus is detected through authentic laboratories. Chief of DVSO, Dr. Radhe Shyam Mandal, said that the bird flu was proved only at three VDCs of the district and the samples of the dead chickens of other parts had been sent to Kathmandu for the lab test. Stating that the office has been receiving numerous reports regarding dying of chickens from different VDCs, Mandal said that the office had been conducting awareness campaign and various other programmes against the bird flu. After the bird flu virus was detected at Charpaney, Arjundhara and Pathamari VDCs around few days ago, the district bird flu control committee declared the areas as bird flu virus affected organizing an emergency meeting. And the committees immediately mobilized special team at affected areas and have completed the culling tasks of the birds and other poultry products. Though the bird flu virus has not been detected at other VDCs, the office will remain on constant vigil regarding the spread of virus at other suspected areas. The office has mobilized veterinary service center and sub centers at those areas. Around three years ago, the bird flu was first found at Jhapa and the government had declared the district as bird flu affected district. http://gorkhapatra.org.np/rising.detail.php?article_id=63605&cat_id=4