Nepal - Bird flu outbreak in poultry 2023-2026

[Commonground]

6/25/26
Bird flu outbreak confirmed in Bhaktapur; over 48,000 chickens culled

BHAKTAPUR: Bird flu (avian influenza) has been confirmed in the district, leading to the culling of tens of thousands of chickens after the disease was detected in poultry farms across Changunarayan and Suryabinayak municipalities.

More than 38,500 chickens reared in wards 2, 8, and 9 of Changunarayan Municipality have been destroyed so far after the virus spread among poultry.

Similarly, more than 9,000 chickens were culled in wards 1, 4, and 8 of Suryabinayak Municipality due to the outbreak.

https://english.nepalnews.com/s/hea...med-in-bhaktapur-over-48000-chickens-culled/​

 

[Commonground]

From Post #38, populations of the 11 districts:

Jhapa - 994,090
Sunsari - 753,328.​
Morang - 1,147,187
Bara - 743,982
Mahottarti - 705,838
Chitwan - 579,984
Nawalparasi - 643,508
Kathmandu - 856,767
Bhaktapur - 9,136
Lalitpur - 299,283
Kavrepalanchok - 364,039

Wikipedia

 

[Commonground]

[Post #38 says 82 locations]

Published at : June 25, 2026
Updated at : June 25, 2026 13:30

Bird flu reaches 11 districts as farmers await compensation

Excerpts:

... According to Director General of the Department of Livestock Services, Dr Umesh Dahal, infections were confirmed in five locations in the Kathmandu Valley alone on Wednesday. So far, bird flu has been detected in 87 locations across Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Mahottari, Bara, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur and Kavre.

The department said active cases remain in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Kavre

... New outbreaks have been confirmed in Changunarayan, Suryabinayak and Tokha. Authorities culled 38,795 chickens in wards 2, 8 and 9 of Changunarayan Municipality. Similarly, 8, 9,378 chickens were destroyed in wards 1, 4 and 8 of Suryabinayak Municipality, according to veterinarian Dr Amik Shrestha of the Livestock Service Office, Lalitpur.

He said many birds had already died before containment measures began. He added that the disease is mostly affecting local and layer chickens, while broilers are less affected.

...
The standards provide for relief of up to 75 percent of production costs, based on the recommendation of the Rate Determination Committee coordinated by the Chief District Officer (CDO).

However, officials say the scale of the outbreak has created budget shortages.

“Losses were much higher than expected this time, so the budget is insufficient,” said Dr Dahal. “We have already requested the Finance Ministry, through the Agriculture Ministry, for fund reallocation.”

...Only Rs 20 million has been allocated for farmer compensation in the current fiscal year. The department has requested an additional Rs 500 million. For the next fiscal year, Rs 560 million has been allocated for relief.

...The most effective way to prevent a pandemic is the rapid containment of the virus in poultry populations to prevent mutation and transmission to other animals and humans.

Bird flu causes nearly 100 percent mortality in poultry. So far, transmission from animals to humans has been rare, and there is no confirmed evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.

Globally, around 900 human infection cases have been reported, with a mortality rate of around 50 percent, according to World Health Organisation data.

https://kathmandupost.com/national/...es-11-districts-as-farmers-await-compensation​

 

[Commonground]

hat-tip @danwalker9999​

[Note the Date, emphasis is mine]

March 24, 2026
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) (H5N1) resurges in Nepal: Poultry outbreaks and wild bird cases signal escalating risk in Koshi and Bagmati provinces

Excerpt:
Epidemiological analysis and public health impact​

• The detection in Kathmandu's (Bagmati Pradesh province) urban environment represents a significant geographic expansion from the rural outbreak epicenter in Koshi Province. Urban detection increases human exposure risk, particularly among market workers, poultry handlers, and residents in proximity to infected crow populations.
• Nepal's limited diagnostic capacity, with samples requiring confirmation at the central laboratory in Kathmandu, creates delays in outbreak detection and response. The Animal Disease Investigation Laboratory in Biratnagar has been receiving five to seven farmers daily with dead chickens for testing, suggesting substantial underreporting of mortality events and potential undetected circulation in farms lacking access to veterinary services.

Comparative analysis and future outlook

• Detected for the first time in Nepal in 2009, the current HPAI (H5N1) outbreak represents a re-emergence following the last reported occurrence on 30 Jun 2025 in Sunsari District, Koshi Province, after the country had declared the outbreak resolved. Although the 10 316 cases reported across four farms are substantially lower than the 2013 peak (201 outbreaks) and the 2022 outbreak affecting 15 districts with over 600 000 birds culled, the rapid geographic spread and concurrent involvement of wild birds in the current event indicate a potential for escalation if containment measures are not effectively implemented.
• The outbreak's timing in March 2026 aligns with Nepal's established seasonal pattern, where HPAI (H5N1) outbreaks are five times more likely during winter months. As Nepal transitions into spring, declining transmission pressure may naturally limit spread.
• The detection of clade 2.3.2.1a H5N1 viruses, capable of infecting mammals—including Nepal’s first fatal human case in 2019—underscores the need for enhanced surveillance among high-risk groups such as farm workers and culling teams. Previously identified in human infections in Bangladesh and Nepal (2015–2019), this clade is closely related to strains found in humans and cats in India during 2024–2025. It is associated with high virulence in poultry (often >50% mortality) and retains significant zoonotic potential, with an estimated ~60% case fatality rate in confirmed human infections.
• Warning signs of a worsening situation include detection in additional provinces beyond Koshi and Bagmati; human infections among poultry workers or culling teams; sustained wild bird die-offs indicating ongoing environmental contamination; and detection in backyard poultry flocks, which would point to community-level spread beyond commercial farms.
• The country's porous borders with India and China, along with limited surveillance resources, create conditions for undetected spread. Future trajectory depends critically on the enforcement of biosecurity and the expansion of surveillance beyond the currently affected districts.

​https://beaconbio.org/en/report/?re...&eventid=89f482b0-852e-47a4-a4ea-66a61cfe4a7e



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[Commonground]

Translated, emphasis is mine

June 25, 2026
Destroying infected birds is an effective way to control bird flu: Dr. Umesh Dahal. 11 Ashar, Kathmandu

The bird flu infection that has been spreading in Nepal for the last three months is now concentrated especially in the Kathmandu Valley.

According to Dr. Umesh Dahal, Director General of the Department of Animal Services, although the infection has been confirmed in 11 districts so far, the risk of infection has been seen more recently in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur and Kavre.

According to him, although regular monitoring and sample testing is being carried out through laboratories across the country, no new infections have been confirmed in other areas except the Kathmandu Valley. He said that the department's main focus is now on quickly controlling the infection within the valley.

According to Dr. Dahal, bird flu has been seen in more than 80 poultry farms, both small and large. He said that information was received on Thursday alone that samples from five more places had been confirmed to be infected and that control work was being carried out by immediately mobilizing technical teams in those places.

The infection began in crows towards the end of Chaitra [March]. Then, from the second week of Jestha [May], it started spreading to Chandragiri, Kirtipur, Tokha, Tarakeswar and other areas of Kathmandu, Dr. Dahal said.

‘It seems that the disease was transmitted from infected crows. Bird flu has been confirmed by testing the crows,’ he said. According to him, the infection has also spread to Godavari, Changunarayan, Suryabinayak and other areas. Recently, after infected crows were found in the Central Zoo, there are signs that the infection has spread to wildlife and wild birds.

Dr. Dahal said that bird flu is a highly contagious virus, saying that it can kill a large number of chickens and even spread to humans. ‘This is a disease for which there is no treatment and effective vaccine. Therefore, wherever infection is seen, the ‘stamping out’ method is adopted to destroy all sources of infection and birds in that area,’ he said.

Stating that only one old case of infection in humans has been seen in Nepal so far, he informed that no human infection has been confirmed. A study has also been initiated to determine whether the virus has mutated after another avian influenza strain, H9, was detected in zoos and other animals.

According to Dr. Dahal, preparations are underway to conduct genomic sequencing of the virus in consultation with the Bird Flu Coordination Committee, public health sector, environmentalists and stakeholders.​

continued https://np.ictframe.com/culling-infected-birds-bird-flu/

 

[Commonground]

[See post #42 above. Chitwan also has H5N1 in pouitry]

Egg prices rise amid drop in production
June 25, 2025, 11:40 a.m.

Chitwan: The price of eggs has been increased. The Nepal Layers Poultry Breeders Association has fixed the support price to be implemented from today. Accordingly, the farm price in Chitwan has been set at Rs. 480 per crate large size eggs and Rs. 450 for medium size eggs. This is an increase by Rs. 30 per crate or 30 eggs.​
President of the Association Binod Pokharel said that the price has been increased due to low production and high demand.
-snip-

Furthermore, diseases are common in this season and when humidity increases due to rain the heat stress on chickens increases, which reduces production.

Meanwhile, Head of the National Poultry Disease Research Laboratory, Bharatpur, Dr. Bijay Kumar Shrestha, said samples brought here from Chitwan and surrounding districts have shown H9 (or H9N2) disease in 50 poultry farms.

https://english.nepalbahas.com/news/detail/258660/
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[Commonground]

June 26, 2026
Bird flu control intensified in Kathmandu as outbreak spreads across 11 districts

KATHMANDU: The Department of Livestock Services has intensified efforts to prevent the spread of bird flu in the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding areas by deploying technical teams and strengthening disease control measures. The department has also increased surveillance through regular sample testing conducted by various laboratories.
-snip-

Bird flu has been confirmed at around 100 poultry farms.

continued: https://english.nepalnews.com/s/cap...andu-as-outbreak-spreads-across-11-districts/

 

[Commonground]

[same article in all websites today]

Publish Date : 27 June 2026 13:37 PM
Bird flu spreads in Kathmandu Valley, confirmed at 82 sites across 11 districts

KATHMANDU: Bird flu infections are rising across Nepal, with outbreaks confirmed at 82 locations in 11 districts, prompting authorities to intensify surveillance and disease control measures.

-snip-
Officials said the outbreak has been brought under control in several districts, including Bara, Mahottari, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Jhapa, Morang, and Sunsari. However, heightened vigilance remains in parts of the Kathmandu Valley, where infections continue to be detected.

To strengthen monitoring, the Department has also begun gene sequencing of the H5N1 virus in collaboration with the National Public Health Laboratory to identify any potential genetic mutations in the circulating strain.

https://english.khabarhub.com/2026/...epartment,mutations in the circulating strain.
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[Commonground]

June 29, 2026
How Bird Flu Spiraled Into a Nationwide Crisis in Nepal: Everything You Need to Know

Why is H5N1 spreading into urban neighborhoods? What role are wild birds playing? Are eggs and chicken still safe to eat? This comprehensive explainer answers the biggest questions surrounding Nepal's worst avian influenza outbreak in years

snip

With nearly 600,000 birds culled, hundreds of thousands of eggs destroyed, and outbreaks now confirmed across 82 locations in 11 districts spanning the length of the country, what began as a regional agricultural emergency has evolved into a nationwide food security and economic disruption event.

The outbreak trajectory presents an alarming pattern. The virus first struck the farms of Sundarharaicha and Urlabari in Morang district on March 18, when poultry farmers reported sudden mass mortality. From that initial spark, the disease moved methodically westward through the densely stocked broiler and layer operations of Sunsari, then into Jhapa and Chitwan.

By late spring, it had established itself in the Terai’s Mahottari, Bara, and Nawalparasi districts. Then, in mid-June, it crossed the geographical divide and entered the Kathmandu Valley, where the terrain, density of animal-keeping, and proximity to urban wild bird populations created conditions for yet another explosion of infections.

What distinguishes the Kathmandu Valley outbreak from the agricultural crisis in the eastern Terai?

The Kathmandu Valley’s outbreak presents a qualitatively different challenge from the rural agricultural spreading that dominated March through May. In the Terai, outbreaks occurred primarily within registered commercial farming operations, farms with established boundaries, identified ownership, and measurable biosecurity infrastructure. While that biosecurity was frequently inadequate, it remained targetable by government culling and disinfection teams.

[Aerial view of Kathmandu: Photo courtesy: Nepal Photo Library]

The Valley’s spread involves something far harder to control: birds kept in small numbers in residential neighborhoods across Kirtipur, Chandragiri, Godawari, Changunarayan, and Suryabinayak, where individual households maintain flocks for eggs or local income. Unlike commercial farms where complete operational shutdowns are feasible, neighborhoods cannot be locked down.

snip-

Why did the Central Zoo become a center of outbreak transmission?
-snip-
...Carnivores including leopards and tigers were also exposed, though infection rates among mammalian species remain incompletely documented.

-snip-
Has H5N1 in Nepal shown any signs of genetic modification that might increase human transmission risk?

The Department of Livestock Services initiated gene sequencing of the current outbreak strain in collaboration with the National Public Health Laboratory specifically to detect whether the circulating virus has undergone the types of genetic changes that increase mammalian transmissibility.

The clade 2.3.2.1a lineage currently identified in Nepal’s outbreak is the same strain previously associated with human infections in Bangladesh and Nepal between 2015 and 2019. Related variants have been detected in humans and cats in India during 2024 and 2025. International surveillance networks have documented gradual accumulation of mutations in various H5N1 clades over recent years, particularly involving changes to receptor-binding domains and other viral proteins that influence how efficiently the virus infects different cell types.

None of the available public findings from Nepal’s ongoing sequencing have indicated alarming mutations specific to human adaptation, but the investigation remains active. The public health significance lies in recognizing that while H5N1 remains primarily a bird pathogen, the evolutionary trajectory of the virus globally cannot be taken for granted.

Researchers working across South Asia have emphasized that sustained surveillance, particularly in situations where large numbers of birds are being culled and disposed of, provides the best early warning mechanism for concerning genetic changes before they manifest in human spillover events.

-snip-
In March 2026, thirty house crows found dead near the Tribhuvan University campus tested positive for the virus. Crows are ubiquitous in Kathmandu neighborhoods, omnivorous, and highly mobile across the urban landscape. Their presence at the zoo and their involvement in transmitting infections to zoo bird collections suggests they functioned as active vectors rather than passive casualties of human-generated disease.

The epidemiological significance lies in what this reveals about the geographic distribution of infection risk. Previous outbreaks in rural Terai zones involved primarily farm-to-farm transmission, with wild birds implicated more as background reservoirs than active bridges. The 2026 pattern indicates that once H5N1 establishes itself in wild urban bird populations, it creates a transmission dynamic independent of registered poultry farms.

snip

If migratory birds arrive carrying the virus from distant infected zones, local crow and pigeon populations might acquire it and sustain transmission in urban environments long after seasonal migration ends. This possibility has not been ruled out in official investigations.


Continued: https://english.nepalnews.com/s/explainers/how-bird-flu-spiraled-into-a-nationwide-crisis-in-nepal-everything-you-need-to-know/​

 

[Commonground]

[Kavrepalanchok District also known as Kavre is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. The district, with Dhulikhel as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,396 km². It is a part of Bagmati Province and has a population of 364,039. Nepal's Information Technology Park is also located in this district​- wikipedia]

Bird flu toll: 40,000 chickens culled in Kavre

​Kavrepalanchwok, June 30: The district authority has culled as many as 40,000 domestic fowl- chicken and ducks- in response to increasing spread of bird flu.

The District Livestock Office, Dhulikhel informed that it destroyed 40,729 birds kept in commercial farms. The chickens of layer species and ducks were destroyed after they began dying due to influenza.

Senior veterinarian Dr Bajra Kishor Thakur informed that avian influenza took toll on poultry farms of ward no 6 and 13 of Banepa Municipality and ward no 7, 8 and 9 of Panauti Municipality

The infection might have spread rapidly also because of random disposal of chickens and ducks which died of bird flu, Thakur said, adding that dumping of dead and infected birds must be safe. In view of the spread, the Office has intensified rigorous test, management and supply of the domestic fowls.

He urged the concerned poultry farmers and entrepreneurs to ensure sanitation and sanitization in farm and during supply. The protocol on bio-security at commercial poultry farm must be adhered, Thakur stressed.

However, it is argued that the infection spread rapidly because of slow results of laboratory tests. In view of growing risk, the local authority has beefed up inspection of fowl supply to curb illegal transport.

https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/82722
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[Commonground]

Nepal’s bird flu outbreak spreads, breeding pandemic mutation fears​

Published: 1:00pm, 30 Jun 2026Updated: 4:05pm, 30 Jun 2026​
Excerpt:

Spillover risk

Dibesh Karmacharya, a geneticist and co-founder of the Kathmandu-based Centre for Molecular Dynamics Nepal, told This Week in Asia that the virus’ spread beyond poultry into crows and other animals was particularly alarming in an urban setting.

“Spillover into other species can occur relatively easily under the right conditions, but containing the virus after cross-species transmission is far more challenging,” he said, attributing its rapid spread to its “high transmissibility, broad host range and genetic plasticity”.
​

Like coronaviruses, H5N1 is an RNA virus with a high mutation rate, capable of producing genetically diverse variants with altered transmissibility, host range or virulence – changes that, in humans, can cause severe pneumonia and multi-organ failure, particularly when treatment is delayed.

Karmacharya said whole-genome sequencing was needed to establish the outbreak’s origin and identify circulating strains and possible mutations, a process that Upadhyaya confirmed was now under way.

By comparing viral strains found in poultry and in zoo animals, scientists hope to determine whether a single variant is infecting multiple hosts, or whether several strains are circulating simultaneously.

“If the viruses are genetically similar, it would be a significant concern,” Karmacharya said. “It would indicate that the virus is infecting multiple hosts. Some mammalian species may act as incidental hosts and, in certain cases, could potentially contribute to ongoing transmission.”
​

Scary situation’

People in close contact with animals or working on poultry farms are most at risk, according to Dr Bimal Sharma Chalise, chief consultant physician at the government-run Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital – though there is currently no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.

The World Health Organization recorded 954 human bird flu cases and 464 deaths between 2003 and the end of 2024, giving a case fatality rate of almost 50 per cent. In Nepal, the only confirmed human fatality remains a truck driver transporting live poultry who died in 2019.

“Despite the low risk of human-to-human transmission, there is a danger of mutation,” Sharma Chalise said. “And in case of mutation, we might be looking at a scary situation.”

“We should be very concerned,” Karmacharya said. “Nepal experiences regular outbreaks of human and animal diseases, and its biosecurity and surveillance systems remain limited. As a result, cross-contamination and disease spread are likely to occur both nationally and regionally. Stronger preventive measures are urgently needed across public health and food safety systems.”

​​Continued: https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/heal...reak-spreads-breeding-pandemic-mutation-fears


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[Commonground]

July 1, 2026
Bird flu infections spread rapidly

Excerpt:


At the programme, Deputy Director General of the Department of Livestock Services Dr. Bikash Shrestha said that the most recent bird flu outbreak in Nepal before the current cases had occurred in Jhapa district in the month of Chaitra.

He said that in recent days, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, and Kavrepalanchok have emerged as bird flu "hotspots."

Dr. Shrestha said that bird flu has been detected in Banepa and Panauti municipalities of Kavrepalanchok, with infections confirmed in nine farms, including two additional farms in Panauti on Tuesday.

He stressed the need to strengthen biosecurity measures around poultry farms to prevent further spread of the disease.

According to Dr. Shrestha, as of Tuesday, approximately 620,000 birds, 1.1 million eggs, and about 250 kilograms of poultry feed had been destroyed nationwide following confirmed bird flu outbreaks.

He added that laboratory test reports for suspected bird flu samples are generally available within 24 to 36 hours.

On the occasion, poultry farmers of Kavrepalanchok urged the government to tighten inspections at border checkpoints, saying weak monitoring at open transit points has allowed the unrestricted movement of poultry, increasing the risk of disease transmission.

They said that delays in receiving laboratory test results have placed commercial poultry farmers in a difficult situation.

They said compensation is calculated based on the number of birds remaining at the time laboratory confirmation is received.

As a result, farmers who originally had thousands of chickens often receive compensation for only a few hundred birds because many die before the test results are issued, leading to substantial financial losses.
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https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/82751

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[Commonground]

July 1, 20266:57 AM EDTUpdated 23 hours ago
Animal quarantines on standby as Nepal battles rising cases of bird flu

Excerpts:

KATHMANDU, July 1 (Reuters) - Nepal is battling a widening bird flu outbreak that has led to the ​culling of more than half a million birds ‌and government quarantine facilities have been put on alert to ensure food safety standards for consumers, officials said on Wednesday.​

...No human ​infections have been reported, officials said.

...Authorities have culled 658,313 ​chickens and destroyed more than one million eggs and 222,000 kg (489,400 pounds) of poultry feed, Mukul Upadhyaya, spokesperson for the Department ​of Livestock Services, said.

“It is under control in ​other places except in Kathmandu Valley, where cases are severe,” Upadhyaya ‌told ⁠Reuters.​​

...https://www.reuters.com/business/he...pal-battles-rising-cases-bird-flu-2026-07-01/

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[Commonground]

Published at : June 30, 202 Updated at : June 30, 2026

Worker shortage delays culling of chickens at bird flu-affected farms in the Valley

Excerpt:

However, due to a shortage of manpower, authorities have been unable to promptly dispatch rapid response teams to cull infected chickens and disinfect affected farms.

“We have been facing acute shortage of manpower to cull the remaining chickens at bird flu-hit poultry farms,” said Dr Mukul Upadhyaya, a senior veterinary officer who is also a lead focal person for avian influenza control programmes and disease surveillance at the Department of Livestock Services. “Reports confirming bird flu outbreaks are coming from multiple places, but we are unable to dispatch rapid response teams immediately.”

-snip-

Of late, districts of the Kathmandu Valley—Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur—and Kavrepalanchowk have been witnessing a massive outbreak of avian influenza. Outbreaks have been reported at 58 places across the Valley and Kavrepalanchowk district, according to officials at the department.

“Labourers earn more from their regular work than what we offer,” said Upadhyaya. “Under government rules, we can pay only Rs1,200 a day. As a result, we have been facing an acute labour shortage.”

Experts warn that delays in containing the virus pose serious risks to humans and other species, as the H5N1 strain of avian influenza currently spreading in the Valley is highly pathogenic, spreads rapidly and can cause nearly 100 percent mortality in the infected birds. They say swift culling and disposal of infected birds, along with restrictions on the movement of poultry and poultry products to and from affected farms, are the only effective ways to contain the outbreak.
-snip-

"We have not carried out testing on dogs and other animals"...

... https://kathmandupost.com/health/20...ge-slows-culling-at-bird-flu-hit-valley-farms






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[Commonground]

Facebook

National Public Health Laboratory
23h ·

Monitoring visit of Avian Influenza Surveillance in Human Population sentinel site at Khwopa Hospital, Bhaktapur was conducted by National Public Health Laboratory on 23rd June 2026. NPHL team led by Bal Krishna Awal, visited the different wards and laboratory department. A meeting was organised with the Khwopa Hospital team including the clinicians, nursing staffs, laboratory staffs, medical recorder, and other staffs of the hospital and discussed on the importance of avian influenza Surveillance and its operation at Khowpa Hospital.​

https://www.facebook.com/nphlnepal/...uman-population-sentinel-si/1625669522899564/

 

[Commonground]

[not avian influenza]
Publish Date : 01 July 2026 14:39 PM

Over 1,600 people affected by infectious and waterborne diseases in one week

​KATHMANDU: A total of 1,612 people across Nepal were affected by various infectious and public health-related diseases in a one-week period, according to the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) under the Ministry of Health and Population.

In its weekly bulletin covering June 22 to 28, the EDCD said the highest number of cases was recorded for acute gastroenteritis (acute diarrhoea), with 762 patients reported nationwide.

During the same period, 382 cases of influenza-like illness and 365 cases of severe acute respiratory infections were also recorded. In addition, 63 dengue cases, 18 cases of febrile illness with rashes, and 14 cases of scrub typhus were reported. The bulletin also listed 4 cases of jaundice with fever, along with 2 influenza cases and 2 other reported infections.

The EDCD said that while such diseases have been consistently reported in recent weeks, the 26th epidemiological week showed a slight decline in most cases compared to the previous week.

Provincial data showed that Bagmati Province recorded the highest number of diarrhoea cases at 416. Among influenza-like illnesses, 147 cases were reported in Sudurpaschim Province, while 96 cases of severe respiratory infection were recorded in Bagmati Province. Of the dengue cases, 29 were reported from Koshi Province.

Meanwhile, the EDCD said that 20 people fell ill with symptoms resembling food poisoning during a rice harvesting event held in Kamalamai Municipality-8, Sinsneri, Sindhuli.

The affected individuals developed symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, and body aches after consuming food and drinks prepared at a single location. Of those affected, 17 were women and 3 were men. All were taken to health facilities for treatment and are now in stable condition, the division said.

Health authorities have urged the public to maintain personal hygiene, use safe drinking water, and adopt protective measures against mosquito bites, warning that the risk of diarrhoeal diseases, dengue, and other infections typically increases during the monsoon season.
​
https://english.khabarhub.com/2026/01/556429/

 

[Commonground]

Jul 03, 2026​

Govt releases Rs 500m relief as bird flu losses top Rs 700m

Compensation for affected poultry farmers begins as authorities warn against sale of infected birds and step up containment efforts across 11 districts

Excerpt:
Public health cannot be compromised,' Dr Upadhyay said. The Department has also urged the public to exercise caution while handling dead birds, warning that improper disposal of infected poultry and unsafe culling practices could increase the risk of the virus spreading to humans. Veterinary technicians and Rapid Response Teams have been mobilised in all affected districts to contain the outbreak. Officials said control measures have already shown progress in some areas, while surveillance, culling and disinfection operations continue in others. The latest government intervention comes days after authorities intensified biosecurity measures following the continued spread of bird flu from its initial detection in Morang in March. Officials have linked the wider transmission to infected wild birds, particularly crows, and the improper disposal of dead poultry, prompting tighter monitoring of poultry movement and enhanced disease surveillance nationwide.

https://thehimalayantimes.com/ampArticle/1039134

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[Commonground]

Publish Date : 03 July 2026 12:26 PM
Department warns against sale of bird flu-infected poultry, threatens legal action


KATHMANDU: The Department of Livestock Services has directed poultry businesses not to sell or distribute chickens, ducks, quails, or other birds infected with avian influenza (bird flu), warning that violators will face legal action.

Department spokesperson Dr. Mukul Upadhyay urged businesses not to compromise public health, stating that anyone found selling infected birds or their products would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

According to the department, the bird flu virus, which has spread to 11 districts since mid-March, poses a risk of mutation, prompting authorities to maintain a high level of vigilance.

Technical teams have been deployed in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kavrepalanchok, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Mahottari, Bara, Chitwan, and Nawalparasi to contain the outbreak.

The department said Rapid Response Teams are actively working in the affected districts to control the spread of the disease, adding that the outbreak is already under control in some areas.

It also urged the public to exercise caution while disposing of dead or infected birds, warning that improper handling or disposal could increase the risk of transmission to humans.

According to the department, around 700,000 birds, 1.1 million eggs, and 300,000 kilograms of poultry feed have been destroyed in the 11 affected districts so far.

https://english.khabarhub.com/2026/03/556720/
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[Commonground]

July 4, 2026
Health Ministry issues nationwide alert over spreading bird flu outbreak

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health and Food Hygiene has issued an urgent nationwide alert following the detection of bird flu (avian influenza) across 100 locations in 11 districts, including the Kathmandu Valley.

Ministry Joint Spokesperson Samir Mani Adhikari has urged the public to completely avoid direct contact with sick, dead, or infected poultry, to consume meat and eggs only after they are thoroughly cooked, and to report dead birds to nearby veterinary authorities.

While the Department of Livestock Services continues to monitor the situation, health officials emphasized that although the virus can transmit from infected birds to humans through direct contact, handling, or cleaning contaminated spaces, it does not easily spread from person to person.

The public is advised to monitor for symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, breathing difficulties, muscle aches, fatigue, and diarrhea, and to practice strict hygiene measures.

https://english.nepalnews.com/s/hea...wide-alert-over-spreading-bird-flu-outbreak/​

 

[Michael Coston]

Watching Bird Flu in Nepal (H5N1)

#19,235


Nestled between India and China, Nepal is no stranger to HPAI H5N1 - including at least 1 human case in 2019 - along with sporadic outbreaks in poultry over the years.

In recent months, however, FluTrackers has been following an increasing number of reports of outbreaks in both wild birds and poultry.​

Since early March, WOAH reports 66 outbreaks across the country, involving the loss of more than 500,000 domestic birds, and reports of die offs of wild birds (mostly wild house crows).



While official government reports are infrequent and hard to access, local and international media have reported increasing concern over the spread of H5N1 in Nepal, with Nepal News reporting yesterday (Jul 4th) Health Ministry issues nationwide alert over spreading bird flu outbreak.

Ministry Joint Spokesperson Samir Mani Adhikari is quoted as urging `. . . the public to completely avoid direct contact with sick, dead, or infected poultry, to consume meat and eggs only after they are thoroughly cooked, and to report dead birds to nearby veterinary authorities.'​

The subclade currently circulating in Nepal remains a bit of a mystery. I've not seen any recent mention, but we know that both clade 2.3.4.4b (the primary global subclade) and a more regional 2.3.2.1a have been reported in Nepal.

A 3rd possibility exists, as eight months ago, in Viruses: Zoonotic Implications of the Co-Circulation of Clade 2.3.4.4b and 2.3.2.1a H5N1 Avian Influenza Viruses in Nepal in 2023, we looked at a report of a reassortment event which combined genetic elements from both subclades.​

This event was not unlike what we saw 3 years ago with the emergence of a new, more transmissible H5 Clade 2.3.2.1e virus in Cambodia & Vietnam that subsequently sparked an abrupt uptick in human infections between 2024-2026.

Zoonotic Implications of the Co-Circulation of Clade 2.3.4.4b and 2.3.2.1a H5N1 Avian Influenza Viruses in Nepal in 2023​

Pragya Koirala 1, Manju Maharjan 2, Sharmila Chapagain 3, Barun K. Sharma 1,
Tirumala B. K. Settypalli 4, Charles E. Lamien 4 and William G. Dundon 4,*​

Viruses 2025, 17(11), 1481; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17111481​

Abstract

Samples collected from two avian influenza outbreaks in Bagmati Province in central Nepal between January and March 2023 were positive for H5N1. Full genomes were generated for both viruses, which revealed that one of the viruses was very similar to clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 identified in Bangladesh in 2021/2022.​

The second virus was a reassortant H5N1 virus consisting of four genes (HA, NA, NP, and M) originating from a clade 2.3.2.1a H5N1 and the remaining four genes (NS, PB1, PB2, and PA) originating from a 2.3.4.4b H5N1. Notably, this second virus had a high identity with 2.3.2.1a clade viruses identified in humans and cats in India in 2024–2025.​

These are the first full genome sequences of H5N1 avian influenza viruses from Nepal and given the recent human infections by 2.3.2.1a H5N1 viruses in the region, these data will be of interest to both public health and veterinary authorities.​

(Continue . . .)​

The caveat here is, this study analyzed only two poultry isolates - taken from two different farms roughly 10 km apart in early 2023 - which tells us very little about prevalence or spread of variants the region.

Regardless of the subclade involved, a large and escalating bird flu outbreak lying beneath the flyway between the two most populous countries (India & China) on the planet is very much worth our attention.​

Stay tuned.


https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2026/07/watching-bird-flu-in-nepal-h5n1.html
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