Bird flu: 227 thousand chickens being culled in two farms in Koshi

By Shashidhar Parajuli, Biratnagar, April 19: Bird flu has spread in the Sunsari Poultry Farm, the largest poultry in the Koshi province.

Preparations are underway to cull over 155 thousand chickens of the farm. It is the first time in the province that so many number of chickens are being culled due to bird flu.

The farm is located at Ramdhuni municipality in Sunsari district.

Similarly, the government team is also preparing to cull some 72 thousand chickens of a farm of the Purbanchal group located at Budhiganga in Morang district.

Livestock service department had confirmed bird flu infection in the farms two days ago.

Dr. Manoj Kumar Mahato, chief of veterinary hospital and livestock service expert center, Sunsari, said that some seven thousand chickens have already died due to infection. To prevent further spread of infection in other areas, remaining chickens in the farm are to be culled and a big team of human resource has been mobilized to cull so large number of chickens, said Dr. Mahato.

He said 110 people are deployed for culling and burying the chickens.

Dr. Ajay Kumar Shah, chief of veterinary hospital, Morang, said that preparations were made to cull 72 thousand chickens of Budhiganga today itself.

He said it takes a god deal of time and human resource to kill infected chickens by striking on their heads without using any chemicals. Chickens thus killed are then buried using lime and bleaching powder, he said.

About 200 thousand chickens were culled earlier in the month in Sunsari district. The government provides a relief amount up to 75% as relief to compensate loss due to bird flu to farmers.