Bird flu brought under control in seven districts, four remain affected

KATHMANDU: Bird flu has been brought under control in seven districts, while the disease remains active in four others, according to the Department of Livestock Services.

The department said the outbreak has been contained in Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Mahottari, Bara, Chitwan and Nawalparasi. However, control efforts are still underway in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Kavrepalanchok.

Department spokesperson Dr. Mukul Upadhyay said technical teams were mobilised to contain the outbreak by culling infected birds and safely disposing of poultry products and related materials in affected areas.

He added that animal quarantine offices also intensified surveillance and destroyed poultry illegally imported during the outbreak. Following improvements in the situation, restrictions on the transportation of poultry and poultry products have now been eased.

According to Dr. Upadhyay, bird flu is a highly contagious disease with a high mortality rate among birds. He said federal, provincial and local governments worked together to deploy the necessary manpower in affected areas.

The department is preparing to distribute compensation worth Rs 520 million to farmers affected by the outbreak in 11 districts within a week.

Under the compensation scheme, farmers will receive relief amounting to 75 percent of the assessed value of poultry, eggs and feed destroyed during disease control operations.

Dr. Upadhyay said compensation would be deposited directly into the bank accounts of eligible farmers who have submitted verified claims. Farmers who fail to receive compensation by the end of the current fiscal year will be paid in the new fiscal year.

The department has urged affected farmers to submit applications along with all required documents to their respective District Livestock Service Offices to claim compensation.

According to the department, around 700,000 birds, 1.1 million eggs and 300,000 kilograms of poultry feed have been destroyed during the control campaign. The total economic loss caused by the outbreak is estimated at nearly Rs 700 million.