Nepal - Bird flu outbreak in poultry 2023-2026

[Commonground]

July 7, 2026
Bird flu brought under control in seven districts

KATHMANDU: Bird flu has been brought under control in Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Mahottari, Bara, Chitwan, and Nawalparasi. Bird flu is an infectious disease. This bird-related disease had recently spread to 11 districts.

According to the Department of Livestock Services, bird flu is yet to be brought under control in four districts: Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, and Kavrepalanchowk.

The department has deployed a technical team and safely managed by destroying all birds, bird products, and poultry materials in the infected area, informed the department’s spokesperson Dr. Mukul Upadhyay.

During disease control, the Animal Quarantine Office destroyed illegally trafficked birds by deploying patrols with high vigilance.

The department has said that after the disease came under control, restrictions on the sale and distribution of poultry products have been relaxed.

According to the department spokesperson Upadhyay, since bird flu is a highly contagious disease affecting birds, he informed that necessary personnel have been deployed in the affected areas in coordination and cooperation with the federal, provincial, and local levels

https://english.nepalnews.com/s/nation/bird-flu-brought-under-control-in-seven-districts/

[Commonground]

July 7, 2026
Govt to Disburse Rs 520 Million in Bird Flu Relief to Poultry Farmers Within a Week

Kathmandu, July 7: The government is set to distribute Rs 520 million in compensation to poultry farmers affected by bird flu outbreaks in 11 districts, with payments expected to begin within a week.

The Department of Livestock Services said the relief package will cover up to 75 percent of the verified losses incurred by farmers whose poultry, eggs and feed were destroyed as part of disease control measures.

Department spokesperson Mukul Upadhyay said compensation will be transferred directly to farmers’ bank accounts after verification of their claims. Farmers who fail to submit claims before the end of the current fiscal year will still be eligible to receive compensation in the next fiscal year.

The compensation amount will be determined in accordance with the Bird Flu Control Regulation, following verification of losses by the concerned authorities.

The Department has urged affected poultry farmers to submit applications to their respective District Livestock Service Offices along with proof of the destruction of chickens, eggs and feed.

Bird flu outbreaks have been reported in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kavrepalanchok, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Mahottari, Bara, Chitwan and Nawalparasi.

According to the Department, nearly 700,000 chickens, 1.1 million eggs and 330 tonnes of feed have been destroyed to contain the spread of the disease. The total financial loss to poultry farmers is estimated at around Rs 700 million.

https://radionepalonline.com/en/2026/07/07/432249.html

[Commonground]

July 8, 2026
Bird flu contained in most districts, risk persists in Kathmandu Valley

LALITPUR, July 8: Bird flu has been brought under control in most parts of the country, but the risk of infection remains in the Kathmandu Valley and is worsening in Kavrepalanchok, according to the Department of Livestock Services.

The Department said outbreaks have been fully contained in districts including Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Mahottari, Bara and Chitwan.

However, the disease continues to pose a threat in the three districts of the Kathmandu Valley, while Kavrepalanchok is witnessing a rapid spread of the infection.

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As part of the nationwide response, authorities have culled 754,500 birds, destroyed 1,091,303 eggs and disposed of 243,635 kg of poultry feed, according to department data.

The Kathmandu Valley and Kavrepalanchok account for a significant share of the losses, with 286,277 birds, 179,064 eggs and 74,000 kg of poultry feed destroyed in those areas alone.

https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/bird-flu-contained-in-most-districts-risk-persists-in-kathmandu-valley-36-30.html

[Commonground]

July 7, 2026
Zoo reopening uncertain as laboratory report yet to come

At least 71 different poultry farms in the Valley—24 in Kathmandu, 35 in Bhaktapur and 12 in Lalitpur—reported an outbreak of avian influenza virus A (H5N1), also called bird flu, that started around a month ago.

Rapid response teams comprising veterinary technicians culled chickens and ducks of 18 poultry farms in Kavrepalanchok, following confirmation of the deadly virus outbreak.

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“Works on culling chickens, and destroying eggs, poultry feeds and manure in disease-hit poultry farms are still ongoing, as outbreaks are being reported from multiple places on a daily basis,” said Dr Mukul Upadhyaya, a senior veterinary officer who is also the lead focal person for avian influenza control and disease surveillance at the department. “At present, more outbreaks have been reported from Kavrepalanchok district.”

Avian influenza viruses A (H5N1), A(H9N2) and A(H5Nx), among others, are responsible for the death of chickens in Nepal. These viruses are highly pathogenic as they primarily affect fowls including domestic chickens and ducks. The outbreak, first reported in eastern Nepal in March, has engulfed 11 districts, including the three districts of Kathmandu Valley and Kavrepalanchok.

Officials say that A(H9N2), a subtype of the avian influenza virus, was responsible for bird flu outbreaks in Koshi Province. The virus caused heavy economic losses in the poultry industry and wiped out a large number of chickens. Outbreaks in the Kathmandu valley involve A(H5N1).

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Meanwhile, the Central Zoo authorities said that the facility will be reopened to the public only after the Central Veterinary Laboratory submits a fresh report and the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division grants approval.

The zoo has been shut down since June 19 following confirmation of the bird flu virus. The virus has killed scores of endangered and rare birds including vultures, owls, swans, and cranes. Zoo officials said the virus has also been detected in some animals such as civets.

“We sent samples to the Central Veterinary Laboratory about a week ago, but the tests could not be carried out due to the laboratory's heavy workload,” said Ganesh Koirala, spokesperson for the Central Zoo. “We sent fresh samples again yesterday [Monday], but the report has not yet been received.”

Officials at the Department of Livestock Services under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forest, and Environment blamed negligence in maintaining bio-safety measures at the zoo, which housed rare and endangered wild animals and birds, for the outbreak.

They also accused zoo officials of trying to conceal the incident even after the deaths of scores of wild birds kept on display. A probe committee is working on its report.

The government usually culls all birds, poultry products, and feeds from outbreak-hit firms, seals the sites and restricts movement for 42 days. Zoo authorities have not culled wild birds even after confirmation of the outbreak.

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https://kathmandupost.com/health/202...rt-yet-to-come

[Commonground]

Published at : July 9, 2026
Updated at : July 9, 2026 18:07

Fresh bird flu detection in dead crows keeps Central Zoo shut

Excerpt:

According to officials, the Central Veterinary Laboratory confirmed the presence of bird flu virus in samples taken from dead crows that were sent for testing two days earlier. The zoo announced the results on Thursday.

"The latest samples from dead crows have tested positive for the bird flu virus," said Ganesh Koirala, spokesperson for the Central Zoo. "We cannot reopen the zoo under such circumstances. We don’t keep crows in the zoo, but they fly in and can pass the virus to birds kept inside for display.”

The zoo has been shut down since June 19 following an outbreak of the deadly virus among vultures, owls, swans and other rare birds, as well as a jungle cat and civets kept at the facility. The outbreak killed dozens of captive birds. The zoo administration was also accused of attempting to conceal the incident. A committee formed to investigate the outbreak is currently preparing its report.

...Meanwhile, bird flu has now been confirmed in 84 poultry farms across the Kathmandu Valley over the past month. Of these, 28 are in Kathmandu, 41 in Bhaktapur and 15 in Lalitpur.

The virus has also been confirmed in 22 poultry farms in Kavrepalanchok. On Thursday alone, rapid response teams were deployed to cull poultry and disinfect two farms in Kathmandu, one in Kavrepalanchok and one in Lalitpur.

According to the Department of Livestock Services, more than 754,000 chickens and ducks have been culled since mid-March after outbreaks were detected.


..."Today as well, four teams of technicians have been mobilised to cull poultry at four infected farms," Dr Mukul Upadhyaya, senior veterinary officer and chief focal person for Avian Influenza Control and Disease Surveillance at the Department of Livestock Services said Thursday. "At present, the highest number of infections is being reported from Kavrepalanchok."

Nepal is currently witnessing outbreaks caused by several avian influenza viruses, including Influenza A (H5N1), A (H9N2) and A (H5Nx). These highly contagious viruses primarily affect domestic birds such as chickens and ducks. First detected in eastern Nepal in mid-March this year, the outbreak has now spread to 11 districts.


https://kathmandupost.com/national/2...ntral-zoo-shut

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Translated
July 10, 2026

The outbreak of bird flu is increasing continuously: Poultry industry worth one and a half billion is in danger

Excerpts:


Kathmandu. The outbreak of deadly avian influenza (bird flu), which has emerged as a major challenge for the livestock sector in Nepal for the last one and a half decades, has spread more separately and aggressively this time. This epidemic has once again badly affected the commercial poultry business, which is considered the backbone of the rural and semi-urban economy.
This disease, which in previous years was limited to a certain geographical area and limited commercial farms, this time has spread rapidly due to different environmental sensitivities, weak biosecurity and changing behavior of wild birds.

....The latest data and technical reports released by the Department of Animal Services show that this year's outbreak is far more complex and challenging than previous years. This series of bird flu, which started from Morang district of Koshi province, has now spread badly in various districts including Kathmandu Valley, the capital of the country. Due to the decline in the demand for meat and eggs in the market, the culling of millions of birds, the loss of billions suffered by farmers and the potential risk to public health, this issue is not only a matter of animal health, but it has also given a serious shock to the national economy and food security.

About 1 trillion 50 billion rupees are invested in poultry business in Nepal, according to related businessmen. According to the president of the National Poultry Traders Association, Jung Bahadur BC, the consumption of chicken has decreased by 20 to 30 percent only in the Kathmandu valley due to the rumor and infection of bird flu. Kathmandu Valley is the country's largest market for chicken consumption, with a daily demand of around 3 lakh kg of meat under normal conditions. At present, due to the fear of bird flu, the demand has decreased from 60 thousand to 90 thousand kilos per day and the sale and distribution of meat is only around 2 lakh 10 thousand to 2 lakh 40 thousand kilos per day.

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During surveillance, an irresponsible trend of throwing dead chickens or birds in open places, roadsides or rivers was observed in some farms instead of digging pits and burying them scientifically. Experts say that the virus has reached various new places in a short time due to being scratched by animals and birds such as dogs, cats or crows and taken elsewhere.

...In Nepal, the bird flu virus keeps changing its form from time to time. In 2009, H5N1 (clade 2.2) was active, while in the 2010s, clade 2.3.2.1 became the main cause of pandemics. In 2021, the H5H8 form appeared for the first time in commercial poultry. In the 2023 and 2026 epidemics, the activation of a new hybrid (reassortant) virus composed of two distinct forms (clade 2.3.4.4b and clade 2.3.2.1a) was confirmed.

No cases of human transmission from the outbreak observed in 2026 have been reported. However, due to the high risk, the Department of Animal Services immediately informs the Ministry of Health whenever bird flu is confirmed on a farm. The Epidemic and Disease Control Division of the Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Laboratory team are conducting regular health surveillance and sample collection of farmers, workers and local people in the affected areas.

...Repeating and becoming more aggressive every year of the bird flu epidemic in Nepal is not only due to natural causes, but our weak biosecurity system and indifference to professional responsibility is equally responsible. The protection of animals and birds is not only the responsibility of government agencies, but it is the common duty of all producers, farmers, consumers and businessmen, therefore it is necessary to follow the standards of biological safety sincerely and exchange information on time.

https://hindi.ratopati.com/story/23887/bird-flu-outbreak-continues-to-grow-poultry-sector-worth-rs-15-billion-at-risk

Same article in English: https://english.ratopati.com/story/6...illion-at-risk

[Commonground]

July 10, 2026
Bird Flu Control Efforts Ongoing Amidst Challenges

Excerpt:
Despite the government's all-out efforts to control bird flu, it has not yet been controlled in the urban areas of three districts of the valley including Kavre district. The pattern of bird flu infection and spread this time has been found to be different from other times.

Rato Pati has interviewed senior veterinarian Dr. Mukul Upadhyay of the Department of Animal Services on the role of the government and farmers in controlling bird flu.
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• Is it suspected that the bird flu virus seen in Nepal this year has a new strain? How is international reporting being done?

We have initiated the process of 'genomic sequencing' to find out whether the virus has undergone any new mutation this year. Only after the report arrives can it be officially stated whether the virus has changed its form or not. However, the symptoms and mortality pattern seen in the infected birds so far are similar to those of the common virus.

Regarding international reporting, we are transparent. We are regularly sending information about every incident of bird flu in Nepal to the World Organisation for Animal Health, and information exchange is continuously taking place at the national and international levels.

https://english.ratopati.com/story/69570/problems-in-bird-flu-control-due-to-crows-and-local-chickens

[Commonground]

Nepal Wildlife: Injured Common Cuckoo Seen Amid Bird Flu Outbreak

July 10, 2026, Lalitpur, Bagmati, Nepal: An injured Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is seen in Lalitpur, Nepal, on July 10, 2026. The sighting comes as Nepal continues to respond to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in poultry and increases surveillance of bird populations. Common Cuckoos, like other wild birds, can be exposed to avian influenza viruses through contact with infected birds or contaminated environments. Authorities advise the public to avoid handling sick or dead wild birds and to report suspected cases to wildlife or veterinary officials.

https://www.reutersconnect.com/item/nepal-wildlife-injured-common-cuckoo-seen-amid-bird-flu-outbreak/dGFnOnJldXRlcnMuY29tLDIwMjY6bmV3c21sX01UMVpVTUEwMDBDQllBNFc

[Commonground]

July 13, 2026
Free 24-hour bird flu hotline launched

KATHMANDU: The Nepal Veterinary Association has launched a free 24-hour hotline and teleconsultation service following the confirmation of bird flu infections in various districts, including the Kathmandu Valley.

The association said the service aims to provide official information, scientific consultation, and emergency technical assistance on bird flu, with a focus on animal health, public health, and protecting the poultry industry.

... https://english.nepalnews.com/s/heal...tline-launched