Chicken sales drop due to fear of bird flu

Chicken sales have dropped in the local market in recent days due to the fear of Avian influenza virus or bird flu despite the fact that Nepali chickens are free from avian influenza.

(File photo)

"Despite the fact Nepal hasn't yet traced strains of the deadly bird flu, domestic poultry industry of Nepal has already started feeling the heat," said Gun Chandra Bista, president of Nepal Hatchery Association.

Avian influenza viruses do not normally infect species other than birds and pigs but people were scared to consume following the reports of the deadly disease.

It is believed that most cases of H5N1 infection in humans have resulted from contact with infected poultry, uncooked poultry products, or contaminated surfaces but Nepalese cooking method of meat makes the possibility of the infection next to nil.

With the news about the outbreak of the bird flu breaking in Southeast Asia and some parts of Europe, both the sales and prices of poultry products in the local market have declined alarmingly, Bista added.

Sano Babu Bindukar, Director of Valley Cold Store also told Nepalnews that there is decline in the sales of chicken due to the rumors of avian influenza. He however refuted the reports that the price of chicken gone down due to the rumors, adding that the price of chicken has gone down due to high production of chicken.

As a precautionary measure of outbreak of strain, Nepal has already imposed a ban on the import of chicken. According to Nepalese experts Nepal has used all alertness to prevent the possibility of avian influenza.

Talking to Nepalnews on Oct 20, the program director of Animal Health Directorate Dr Dhan Raj Ratala had said the government has several programs to prevent this disease so there is no risk of influenza.

The government has established the central laboratory, which is on red alert 24 hours. Veterinary stations in sixteen districts of northern belt of the country and 24 districts of the Terai are on red alert, Dr Ratala had said. nepalnews.com pb Oct 26 05

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