Kosh Raj Koirala – Asian Tribune Correspondent in Nepal
Kathmandu, 08 June, (Asiantribune.com): Nepal government has lifted ban on farming and transporting of poultry products in a bordering village in eastern parts of the country nearly three months after the first case of bird flu was detected.
The newly formed cabinet took the decision after two surveillance teams comprising experts and technicians found no sign of the avian influenza in Mechinagar Municipality that borders with India. The first case of bird-flu was detected on January 16 in a small non-commercial poultry farm.
Officials at Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC) said the decision was taken as per the ministry’s proposal to ease poultry farming and movement of poultry in the affected area. "We did not find bird flu during 90-day surveillance," said Dr Hari Dahal, spokesperson of the MoAC.
The MoAC made the proposal to the cabinet after Department of Livestock (DoL) suggested the MoAC to lift the ban following over three months of surveillance in the affected area.
The government had maintained strict restriction on taming and transportation of fowls within a three km radius of the affected area and kept close watch on symptoms of bird flu within the radius of three to 10 km.
The government had culled thousands of chickens in the area for fear of bird flu spread by providing compensation to concerned victims.
Local media reports said the DoL is also preparing to made recommendation to lift the ban on poultry farming and transportation of poultry products in Sharanamati VDC of Jhapa -- where the second bird flu case was detected on February 22.
As per the existing Bird-flu Control Order 2007, the government can lift ban on farming and transportation of poultry products in the bird-flu affected area if 90-day surveillance finds no new case of recurrence of the disease.
- Asian Tribune -
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