Bird flu spreads in Sunsari; poultry movement banned
Authorities have restricted the movement of live poultry, chicks, eggs, and poultry products within and outside the district until April 27.
KATHMANDU: Authorities have confirmed outbreaks of avian influenza (H5N1) across several locations in Sunsari district, prompting emergency containment measures, the District Administration Office said on Tuesday.
According to an official notice, the disease has been detected in poultry farms across Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City, Inaruwa Municipality, Duhabi Municipality, and Gadhi Rural Municipality.
Following laboratory confirmation, officials have declared a four-kilometre radius around the infected sites as a high-risk containment zone under the Avian Influenza Control Regulations, 2078.
Assistant Chief District Officer Ghanshyam Neupane stated that strict control measures have been enforced due to the potential risk of transmission to humans.
Authorities have restricted the movement of live poultry, chicks, eggs, and poultry products within and outside the district until April 27.
Officials said the ban also applies to the entry and exit of poultry products between Sunsari and neighbouring districts in an effort to prevent further spread.
The administration has urged poultry farmers, traders, and residents to remain highly vigilant and cooperate with containment efforts.
The outbreak was first confirmed on March 25, after which large-scale culling and sanitation operations were launched in affected farms.
More than eight poultry farms across Itahari, Duhabi, and Gadhi have been impacted.
Significant losses have been reported. At OKO Agriculture Pvt. Ltd. in Itahari-19 alone, authorities culled 11,020 chickens and disposed of 11,300 eggs.
Similar operations were carried out at multiple farms, including Sanchit Agriculture Farm in Gadhi-5, Alam Agriculture Farm in Itahari-11, Rani Agriculture Farm in Itahari-18, and Laxmi Poultry Farm in Itahari-17.
On Monday, a major culling operation was also conducted at a poultry farm in Ramdhuni Municipality-6 after infection was confirmed in approximately 150,000 layer chickens, according to the Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Service Expert Centre in Inaruwa.
