Bird Flu Continues to Spread Through Infected Crows, Farmers Face Mounting Losses

Kathmandu: The Department of Livestock Services has identified infected crows as a major factor behind the rapid spread of bird flu across the Kathmandu Valley, warning that the movement of wild birds has made the outbreak more difficult to contain.

According to the Department’s Director General, Dr Umesh Dahal, crows infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus have carried the disease from one location to another, contributing to outbreaks in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur, including at the Central Zoo in Jawalakhel.

He said controlling infections among domestic poultry is relatively manageable through culling and biosecurity measures, but preventing transmission through wild crows remains a major challenge. The virus can remain active in infected crows for up to 21 days, allowing them to spread the infection over a wide area. Dead crows often go unnoticed, while their droppings also pose a significant risk of transmitting the virus.

Bird flu has now been reported at around 100 locations in 11 districts across the country, with the Kathmandu Valley remaining one of the most affected regions. Although the outbreak has largely been brought under control in most parts of the Valley, active infections continue in Kirtipur and the Gokarneshwor-Kageshwori Manohara areas, according to the Department.

Since the outbreak began in Morang in March, authorities have culled nearly 600,000 poultry birds to prevent further spread. In addition, more than 989,000 eggs and about 195,000 kilograms of poultry feed have been destroyed.

The outbreak has caused significant financial losses to poultry farmers, many of whom are still waiting for government compensation. Under existing relief provisions, affected farmers are eligible to receive up to 75 percent of the assessed production cost of livestock destroyed during disease control operations. However, officials say the current compensation budget is insufficient because of the scale of the outbreak.

The Department estimates direct losses from the outbreak at around Rs 600 million and has requested an additional Rs 500 million from the federal government to compensate affected farmers. Officials say poultry farms usually remain closed for at least two months after an outbreak, further affecting farmers’ incomes.

To strengthen containment efforts, the Department has formed a Bird Flu Control Unit under the leadership of its Deputy Director General and is working with federal, provincial and local governments to monitor outbreaks, cull infected birds and enforce biosecurity measures in high-risk areas.

The Department has urged poultry farmers and the public to avoid contact with sick or dead birds, report unusual bird deaths immediately and maintain strict hygiene practices, particularly as infections among wild crows continue to pose a risk of further transmission.