According to the District Livestock Office in Dhulikhel, a total of 40,729 birds—primarily layer chickens and ducks—were destroyed across several commercial farms after sudden spikes in poultry deaths were linked to avian influenza.

Affected Areas

Senior veterinarian Dr. Bajra Kishor Thakur confirmed that the outbreak has taken a severe toll on local poultry hubs, specifically hitting:

• Banepa Municipality: Wards 6 and 13

• Panauti Municipality: Wards 7, 8, and 9

What’s Fueling the Spread?

Experts point to two major roadblocks that allowed the virus to spiral:

1. Improper Disposal: Dr. Thakur noted that some farmers randomly dumped dead and infected birds, which heavily accelerated the transmission. He emphasized that safe, bio-secure dumping is absolutely non-negotiable.

2. Delayed Lab Results: Local reports suggest that slow turnaround times for laboratory test results severely hindered early intervention, giving the virus a head start.

Expert Advice for Farmers: Dr. Thakur is urging all poultry entrepreneurs to strictly adhere to farm bio-security protocols, ramp up sanitation measures, and ensure rigorous disinfection during transport.

In response to the growing crisis, the local livestock office has stepped up testing, flock management, and supply chain monitoring. Furthermore, authorities have beefed up checkpoints and inspections on poultry transport routes to crack down on the illegal movement of fowls and prevent the virus from spreading to neighboring districts.