Gorkha: 120 dead chickens suspected bird flu

[Ronan Kelly]

120 fowls dead

Added At: 2012-03-04 10:39 PM Last Updated At: 2012-03-04 10:39 PM

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE
GORKHA: More than 120 chickens have died at a farm belonging to local Rishiram Bohara of Finamatar of Jaubari VDC-9 in Gorkha in the last 24 hours. Bohara, who came to Gorkha headquarters to report the incident, said he suspects the fowls died of bird flu. District Livestock Development Officer Jiblal Lamsal said the fowls might have died of respiratory ailments. Lamsal said his office will send samples from Bohara?s farm to a lab in Pokhara.
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=120+fowls+dead&NewsID=322976

 

[tetano]

Re: Gorkha: 120 dead chickens suspected bird flu

The local administration in Gorkha has banned import of poultry in the district after more than 200 chickens died in Jaubari and Gokhu VDCs recently. Authorities suspect that bird flu may have killed the chickens.

Samples of the dead fowl have been sent to the Capital for tests. As a preemptive measure, the remaining fowls at the two farms were also slaughtered recently. A meeting held at the District Administration Office has decided to inspect the coops for possible infection.

?We are waiting for the lab results to ascertain the cause of the death. Until then, we have banned poultry import,? said Jibalal Lamsal, the chief of the District Veterinary Office.

A rapid test conducted on the samples was positive for the Influenza-A virus, Lamsal said, adding that further tests will determine whether it is a variant that causes bird flu.

Chickens showing bird flu-like symptoms have been found only in the two areas in the district. The owners of the farms said they had imported the chickens from the Chitwan-based Sandhya Poultry Suppliers.


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