Bird flu hits Sunsari farms: Thousands of chickens & eggs destroyed
Six farms in Itahari, one in Duhabi, and one in Gadhi have confirmed infections, officials said.
KATHMANDU: Eight poultry farms in Sunsari have been hit by bird flu, triggering an emergency culling operation to curb the spread of the virus.
Six farms in Itahari, one in Duhabi, and one in Gadhi have confirmed infections, officials said. At one Itahari farm alone, more than 11,000 chickens and 11,000 eggs were destroyed.
Veterinary officials warned that while farms avoided bringing in new birds, the virus may have spread through transport vehicles moving eggs and feed. Authorities have blocked the sale and distribution of poultry in affected areas and are enforcing strict import-export controls.
Disinfection, cleaning, and surveillance efforts are ongoing, with a 42-day ban on new poultry rearing in infected zones. Only if no new cases appear will farms resume production.
The outbreak threatens local farmers’ livelihoods and could disrupt chicken and egg supplies in the market, officials said, adding that coordination among agencies has been stepped up to contain the disease.
