February 17, 2012 02:28 PM
KATHMANDU (Xinhua) -- Thousands of chickens died in the past two weeks in Dhading in central Nepal after an outbreak of bird flu was confirmed in Jhapa, Ilam and Sunsari districts in eastern part of the country.
The massive chicken deaths raised fears of an avian influenza spread. The authorities, however, have yet to find out the cause, local paper The Kathmandu Post reported Friday.
Over 20,000 chickens died on various poultry farms in Dhading in the past two weeks. Some 3,500 out of 5,600 chickens in Ram- Laxman Poultry Farm died, while Salikram Adhikari's farm in Dharke saw deaths of around 3,000 chickens. District Veterinary Office ( DVO) confirmed 10,000 deaths so far.
DVO chief Shivaji Prasad Das said the number of deaths on local farms has been rising by the day.
Ram Koirala, owner of Ram-Laxman Poultry Farm, said he took his chickens to Gaurishanker Vet Pharma of Kalanki, Kathmandu, and technicians there said the chickens were suffering from a disease called "ranikhet."
"We took all necessary treatments against the disease as suggested, but in vain," he said.
Although the unusual deaths of chickens hint at bird flu, it is yet to be verified through lab tests.
"Samples from two of the farms have already been sent to Kathmandu for tests," he said.
A total of 50 poultry farms have been operating in Dhading, with some 500,000 chickens imported from various districts every year.
| http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=778538&publicationSubCategoryId=200 |
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