DistantNews
Support us
🇳🇵 Nepal /Health & Science

Zoo reopening uncertain as laboratory report yet to come

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Avian influenza (bird flu) has led to the culling of over 754,000 chickens and ducks across 11 districts in Nepal since March.
  • The virus has affected poultry farms in the Kathmandu Valley and other regions, with ongoing efforts to control outbreaks and destroy infected feed and eggs.
  • The Central Zoo remains closed pending a laboratory report and approval, after the virus killed several endangered birds.

Nepal is grappling with a significant outbreak of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, which has resulted in the culling of over 754,000 chickens and ducks since March. The virus, identified as A(H5N1) and other subtypes like A(H9N2), has spread across 11 districts, including the three districts of the Kathmandu Valley and Kavrepalanchok.

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.

— Dr Mukul UpadhyayaA senior veterinary officer and lead focal person for avian influenza control and disease surveillance at the Department of Livestock Services, explaining the ongoing efforts to control the bird flu outbreak.

Rapid response teams have been actively culling poultry and destroying eggs, feed, and manure in affected farms. Officials report that outbreaks are still occurring daily, with Kavrepalanchok district currently experiencing a high number of cases. The economic impact on the poultry industry has been substantial, with a large number of birds lost and millions of eggs and kilograms of feed destroyed.

At present, more outbreaks have been reported from Kavrepalanchok district.

— Dr Mukul UpadhyayaHighlighting the current epicenter of the bird flu outbreak in Nepal.

The government has begun compensating farmers in seven districts for their culled chickens, providing 75 percent of the estimated value. However, compensation for farmers in the Kathmandu Valley and Kavrepalanchok will be processed after the new fiscal year begins, as recommendations for relief amounts are still pending and the outbreak continues. Affected farmers must apply for compensation, and authorities will assess losses before approving relief measures.

Poultry farmers in Kathmandu Valley and Kavrepalanchok will be compensated after the start of the new fiscal year, as recommendations for relief amounts have yet to come and the outbreak is still continuing.

— Dr Mukul UpadhyayaExplaining the timeline for compensation to farmers in the affected valley regions.

Meanwhile, the Central Zoo in Kathmandu remains closed to the public since June 19 due to the bird flu outbreak. The virus has claimed the lives of numerous endangered and rare birds, including vultures, owls, swans, and cranes. The zoo will only reopen after the Central Veterinary Laboratory submits a new report and the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division grants its approval.

Affected farmers need to apply for compensation while relevant authorities estimate losses before recommending measures.

— Dr Mukul UpadhyayaDetailing the process for farmers to receive compensation for losses due to bird flu.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog