THE country is battling a surge in bird flu cases and has slaughtered more than 596,000 poultry and shut its only zoo, agriculture ministry officials said.
The Himalayan nation has had bird flu in previous years, but the first cases this year were reported on March 18.
Since then, government livestock officials have overseen the widespread culling of chickens and other domestic birds, and the destruction of more than a million eggs.
Umesh Dahal, director general at the Department of Livestock Services, said that cases had been recorded in 11 districts, including three in the Kathmandu Valley where the outbreak has been most severe.
Dahal said authorities suspect the disease was being spread by crows.
“We are concerned because crows have been found dead from infections,” Dahal said.
“Controlling their movement is extremely difficult, since they live in the wild.” — AFP
