Bird Flu Returns: How H5N1 Is Tearing Through Nepal’s Poultry Sector
Summary
Nepal faces a widespread bird flu outbreak caused by the H5N1 virus, affecting 10 districts and threatening its Rs 60 billion poultry sector, with over 479,000 birds culled and significant economic impact on farmers.
Key Points
- The highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus is spreading rapidly across 10 districts in Nepal, affecting 55 farms and causing widespread poultry culling.
- Nepal's poultry industry, worth over Rs 60 billion and employing over 63,000 people, is severely threatened by the outbreak, impacting the rural economy and food security.
- The disease originated in Nepal in 2009, with repeated outbreaks each year, peaking in 2022 and currently spreading into Kathmandu Valley.
- The virus spreads through migratory birds along flyways, porous borders with India, and weak biosecurity on farms, with wild urban birds now also infected.
