Outbreak of H9 virus behind death of chickens

Hetauda : Hetauda has seen the death of thousands of chickens in a recent couple of days, causing loss of millions of rupees to poultry entrepreneurs.

According to the information provided by farmers, over 10,000 chickens have already died at Hetauda-7.

Though Veterinary Hospital confirmed outbreak of H9 virus behind the mass killing of chickens, the rumour of bird flu has worried poultry farmers in Hetauda.

Hetauda Sub-metropolis is considered to be a pocket area for poultry farming in Nepal.

Organising a press conference onTuesday, Makawanpur Poultry Entrepreneurs Association has said the recent rumour of bird flu outbreak has no truth.

Association Chair Raju Adhikari said there is no bird flu epidemic in Nepal and it is baseless to report that the bird flu has killed chickens in Hetauda.

He further assured the poultry entrepreneurs being sensitive to human health are ready to cull the chickens on their own if bird flu virus is confirmed.

It may be noted that poultry entrepreneurs have made total investment of Rs 5 billion in Makawanpur alone.

The H9N2 virus is reported to have killed the chickens, informed Dr Chet Narayan Kharel, a veterinary doctor at the centre. “We have identified the causes of infections and measures for solutions”, he added.