Poultry death sparks bird flu fear in eastern Nepal

KATHMANDU, March 1 (Chinese media) -- The death of more than 1,000 chickens in two

poultry farms at Halesimarga of Biratnagar in Morang district has triggered a

fear of bird flu among the local people.

According to Sunday's The Himalayan Times daily, till now, 400 chickens

from Dinesh Sitaula's farm and 600 chickens from Kiran Kafle's poultry farm have

perished.

The chickens showed symptoms like bleeding, swelling of ear and head and

excreting green and white watery discharge two days before they died.

"Some 600 to 800 chickens have died in the past two days," Kafle said. He

also said the dead chickens had been buried in a nearby ditch. "Technicians from

District Veterinary Office, Morangin eastern Nepal, are conducting lab test on

the perished chickens. But the test report is yet to come," he added.

Six dead chickens were sent to Regional Animal Disease Research Laboratory

(RADRL), Biratnagar, some 240 km east of Kathmandu, Friday. Technicians from

District Veterinary Office also conducted tests on the dead chickens at the

site.

There are seven poultry farms in Halesimarga area. The villagers have asked

the veterinary office to testify whether or not the chickens died of bird flu.

Meanwhile, chief of RADRL Shadananda Dev said the samples tested negative.

"The samples have been sent to Kathmandu for further tests," Dev added.