KATHMANDU: The government has banned the import of poultry products in Nepal after the bird flu infection was confirmed.

Bird flu has been detected in a flock of Turkey ducks at Sanglekhola Fatung in Tarakeshwor Municipality-7 of Kathmandu.

Municipality’s Livestock Division Chief Dhanipat Roy shared that 1865 ducks, 622 quail birds, 32 chicks, 25 Turkey, 542 eggs, and 75-kg feed were destroyed and disposed of after the confirmation of bird flu.

Poultry firms of local farmers have been sealed off with the assistance of a joint team of Nepal government’s Department of Health Service, Department of Livestock, and Tarakeshwor municipality’s health section after the detection of the flu.

In view of the fear of the outbreak, the samples of poultry products from other firms have been sent for test, the municipality sources said.

Chief Roy also informed that preventive spray has been undertaken in the bird flu affected areas.

Meanwhile, doctors have suggested that since bird flu has killed people in the past, only well-cooked whole meats and meat-based foods should be consumed.

Bird flu has been reported in Nepal after the H5N1 strain of influenza A was detected in India. The same strain virus was first seen in Nepal in March 2017.

A 21-year-old man had died in Nepal due to bird flu in 2019, Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Sher Bahadur Pun said, requesting everyone to take necessary precautions.

According to the World Health Organization, the death rate from bird flu among humans is up to 60 percent.

According to Dr. Pun, the major symptoms of bird flu virus infection are high fever, cough, sore throat, and body aches.

Other symptoms, such as abdominal pain, chest pain, and diarrhea may be followed by respiratory obstruction and pneumonia, he said.

Its symptoms are similar to those of COVID-19. Experts say that it can also be tested at a PCR laboratory.