Mid-west Nepal on high alert of bird flu virus

KATHMANDU, Feb. 23 (Chinese media) -- After the bird flu virus (H5N1) was

confirmed again in eastern Nepal, Nepali districts bordering India have been put

on high alert, Nepali national news agency RSS reported on Monday.

Districts of mid-western region are rated on high alert after the disease

outbroke again in another village in Jhapa district, some 320 km southeast of

capital Kathmandu.

An extensive testing has begun in poultry firms in Banke, Bardiya and Dang

districts of mid-western region, RSS quoted Muni Lal Chaudhary, chief of

Regional Livestock Quarantine Office as saying.

According to Chaudhary, the government officials have been mobilized to

alert locals about the bird flu virus throughout the region.

The regional office has said that 12 districts in the region are on high

alert.

"Though bird flu virus has not been found here yet, a concrete mechanism

has been established as a part of precautionary measures," said Chaudhary. "A

joint team has launched patrolling along Nepal-India border areas."

Nepali government on Feb. 20 confirmed redetection of bird flu virus in

Sharanamtai Vilage Development Committee of Jhapa district and declared

adjoining areas in the eastern Nepal as the bird flu emergency area.

The first bird flu outbreak was confirmed in Kakarbhitta of Jhapa district

on Jan. 16.