Three bird flu outbreaks in last seven days

Three bird flu outbreaks in last seven days

KATHMANDU, May 21: The rapid response team comprising vet officials and technicians on Monday evening culled 475 chickens and 335 ducks following confirmation of bird flu virus in a poultry farm owned by Santosh Chaudhary of Dhapasi-6, Kathmandu. 

The team deployed by the Directorate of Animal Health (DoAH) had also destroyed 200 kg chicken feed stored in farm. The vet technicians had also destroyed droppings and disinfected the farm by late night. 

Officials at DoAH said the latest outbreak is the third over the last seven days. Earlier this week, bird flu had been detected in a poultry farm of Amar Karki of Mulpani VDC-3, where 1,465 chickens were culled. Likewise, on last Wednesday the vet officials culled 200 chickens in a poultry farm owned by Bhim Prasad Lamichhane of Kritipur-1 Tyanglaphat, Kathmandu after confirmation of bird flu outbreak.

In the last nine months alone, avian influenza (H5N1-virus) has been detected in 52 poultry farms across the country, said DoAH officials. They said that the country has witnessed 75 bird flu outbreaks since 2009 and 170,000 chickens have been culled so far. According to DoAH, these outbreaks had been detected in Jhapa, Taplejung, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Dhading, Nuwakot, Chitwan, Rupandehi, Kaski, Nawalparasi, Kailali and Kathmandu.

“Poultry farmers suffered losses worth millions of rupees and may of them have even given up poultry farming,” said Director General of DoAH Nara Bahadur Rajwar. He said the directorate has yet to pay over Rs 13.4 million in relief to the poultry farmers. Rajwar said that the directorate has sought budget from the government to compensate the farmers. 

DoAH has also asked poultry farmers to get their poultry farm insured. It has said that the government would provide five percent of the total losses in compensation. 

“If the poultry farms are insured, the insurance company would pay them for the dead chickens while the government will pay them for the culled chickens,” said Bijaya Kant Jha, program director, Avian Influenza Control Program, DoAH. He informed that the office has formed a team to study viability of using vaccine against bird flu. Poultry farmers have been pressing the government to allow them to import the vaccine. 

Meanwhile, DoAH has urged all poultry farmers to take proper care of their chickens. The office has urged poultry farmers to immediately inform vet officials if chickens start demonstrating suspicious behavior. Chickens infected with bird flu virus avoid feed, stand still with their head down and drool.
Source: Republica
Published on 2013-05-22 02:28:12

बर्डफ्लु झन् फैलँदै कीर्तिपुरमा पनि भेटियो

बर्डफ्लु झन् फैलँदै कीर्तिपुरमा पनि भेटियो 

 काठमाडौंको कीर्तिपुर वडा नं १ ट्याङ्लाफाँटमा रहेको एउटा घरको छतमा पालिएका कुखुरामा बुधबार पुनः बर्डफ्लु भेटिएको छ।

बर्डफ्लु संक्रमण देखिएपछि कीर्तिपुरका भीमप्रसाद लामिछानेको घरको छतमा पालिएका झन्डै २ सय कुखुरा नष्ट गरिएको छ। पशुसेवा निर्देशनालयबाट बुधबार राति ८ बजेको समयमा पुगेको र्यापिड रेस्पोन्स टोलीको नेतृत्व गरिरहनुभएका जिल्ला पशुसेवा कार्यालय काठमाडौंका प्रमुख डा. गुणराज आचार्यले सोबारेमा नेपाल समाचारपत्रलाई जानकारी गराउनुभयो।

मंगलबार मूलपानीस्थित अमर कार्की र वीरेन्द्र कार्कीको नमुना पोल्ट्री फर्ममा र ललितपुरको माणिखेल वडा नं ४ मा रहेको युनाइटेड पोल्ट्री फर्ममा बर्डफ्लु भेटिएपछि संक्रमित कुखुरा, अण्डा र दाना नष्ट गरिएको थियो।

पुनः बुधबार कीर्तिपुरमा बर्डफ्लु संक्रमित कुखुरा भेटिनुले अब नेपालमा बर्डफ्लुको संक्रमण भयावह भएको वरिष्ठ पशुचिकित्सकहरूको ठम्याइ रहेको छ।
मंगलबार ललितपुरको युनाइटेडमा २ हजार ८ सय ८८ कुखुरा, ७ सय किलो दाना र ५ बोरा कुखुराको सुली नष्ट गरिएको र बर्डफ्लु संक्रमित फर्मबाट २ सय मिटरको दूरीमा रहेको अर्को एउटा फर्मलाई पनि निगरानीमा राखिएको जिल्ला पशुसेवा कार्यालय ललितपुरका प्रमुख डा. मंगल शाहले बताउनुभयो।
पशुसेवा निर्देशनालयका वरिष्ठ पशुचिकित्सक डा. बलबहादुर चन्दका अनुसार बर्डफ्लु संक्रमण बढ्नुमा कृषकहरूकै लापरबाही जिम्मेवार छ।

एउटै गाडीमा मल, कुखुराका दाना, चल्ला ल्याउनु र फर्ममा जथाभाबी तरिकाले प्रवेश गर्नु, दानापानी सुरक्षित तरिकाले नराखेबाट जाडो याममा मात्र देखिने बर्डफ्लु गर्मीमा पनि फैलिएको हो।

कास्कीको लेखनाथ नगरपालिका तल्लो गगनगौंडामा रहेको वसन्त श्रेष्ठको फर्ममा बर्डफ्लु देखिएपछि त्यहाँ रहेका ५ सय ५५ कुखुरा, ४० केजी दाना बुधबार नष्ट गरिएको छ। कास्की जिल्ला पशुसेवा कार्यालयले २ हप्ताअघि मात्र पत्रकार सम्मेलन गरी कास्कीमा बर्डफ्लु नरहेको घोषणा गरेको थियो। विज्ञहरूले भने तालैतालको नगर पोखरामा सिमसार क्षेत्रबाट आउने चराहरूले जुनसुकै बेला पनि पोखरामा बर्डफ्लु ल्याउन सक्ने बताएका छन्। मूलपानीको नमुना फर्ममा मंगलबारै १ हजार ४ सय ६५ कुखुरा, १ सय ५० अण्डा र १ हजार २ सय केजी दाना नष्ट गरिएको थियो। रूपन्देही र चितवनमा केही समय अघिदेखि देखा परेको बर्डफ्लुका जीवाणु अझै नष्ट भइनसकेको चन्दले बताउनुभयो।

प्रकाशित मिति : 2070/02/02

स्रोत : नेपाल समाचार पत्र 

बन्द जारको पानी भनेर ढुक्क नहुनुस्

बन्द जारको पानी भनेर ढुक्क नहुनुस्

काठमाडौं - बजारमा बिक्री वितरण भइरहेका प्रशोधित पानी दूषित र गुणस्तरहीन भएको पाइएको छ। नमूना संकलन गरी परीक्षण गरिएको यस्तो पाइएको खाद्य परीक्षण तथा गुण नियन्त्रण विभागले जनाएको छ। गुणस्तरीय पानीमा २५ भन्दा कम जीवाणु, अम्लीयपना ६.५ देखि ८ पिएच हुनुपर्छ। रसायन, पेस्टिसाइड, खनिज, अम्लीयपना जाँच गरेर गुणस्तर निर्धारण गरिन्छ।

विभागका अनुसार वैशाखमा गरिएको नमूना परीक्षणमध्ये विभिन्न तीन कम्पनीका पानी गुणस्तरहीन रहेको पाइएको छ। केएमडी बेभेरेज, प्रालि काभ्रे, यति बेभेरेज प्रालि, काभ्रे र सूर्यकुण्ड फुड्स एन्ड वाटर प्रालि, नुवाकोटको पानी परीक्षण गर्दा गुणस्तरहीन रहेको पाइएको छ। यी कम्पनीको नमुना पानी परीक्षण गर्दा कतिपयमा अम्लीयपना बढी र कतिपयमा अम्लीयपना कम पाइएको थियो। 'यी कम्पनीको पानीमा सुक्ष्म जीवाणु पनि पाइएको छ,' खाद्य परिक्षण तथा गुण नियन्त्रण विभागका प्रवक्ता प्रमोद कोइरालाले भने। सम्बन्धित कम्पनीमाथि अनुसन्धान गरी कारबाही अघि बढाइने विभागले जनाएको छ। यति बेभेरज प्रालि, काभ्रेका सञ्चालक विकास रौनियारले कम्पनीको आफ्नै ल्याबमा आवश्यक परीक्षणपछि मात्र उत्पादित पानी बजारमा पठाउने दाबी गरे। आफ्नो कम्पनीको पानी गुणस्तरीय भएकाले विभिन्न उच्चस्तरीय होटेलमा पठाउने गरेको उनको भनाइ छ।

२०६९ साउनयता अहिलेसम्म नमूना परीक्षण गर्दा विभिन्न २५ कम्पनीको पानी दूषित भएको भेटिएको छ। ती कम्पनीमध्ये कतिपयले कारबाही पूरा गरिसकेको र केही कम्पनी अनुसन्धानको क्रममा रहेका सम्बन्धित जिल्ला प्रशासन कार्यालयले जनाएको छ।

गुणस्तरहीन प्रमाणित भएका पानीमध्ये कुनैमा खनिजको मात्रा बढी पाइएको छ। कतिपय पानीमा कीटाणुसमेत भेटिएको छ। बोरिङ गरेर निकालिएको भूमिगत पानी, खोला तथा झरनाको पानी उचित रूपमा प्रशोधन नगरिएकाले गुणस्तरहीन पाइएको छ। कतिपय कम्पनीको लापरबाहीले प्रशोधित पानी गुणस्तरहीन पाइएको कोइरालाको भनाइ छ। 'कतिपय कम्पनीले जार सिधै धारामा भरेर सिलप्याक गरेकोसमेत गुनासो सुनिएको छ,' उनले भने।

प्रशोधन प्रक्रियाअन्तर्गत जीवाणु, रसायन, फोहोर पदार्थ सबै छानिनुपर्नेमा उचित प्रविधि अभावले राम्रो प्रशोधन हुन नसकेको ठहर विभागले गरेको छ। पानी प्रशोधन गर्ने धेरैजसो प्रविधि स्थानीय तथा भारतीय भएको र ती प्रविधि कमजोर भएकाले पानी गुणस्तरहीन भएको कोइरालाले जनाए। 'धेरै गहिरो गरी पानी निकालिएको ठाउँमा खनिजको मात्रा बढी हुन्छ, पानी राम्रोसँग प्रशोधन गरिएको पाइँदैन,' उनले भने। बजारमा बिक्री वितरण भइरहेको प्रशोधित पानी दूषित देखिएकाले उपभोक्ता सचेत हुनुपर्ने कोइरालाको सुझाव छ। सकेसम्म पानी उमालेर, सोडिस प्रविधि अपनाएर (पानी घाममा सुकाएर खाने प्रक्रिया), पानीमा पियुष हालेर मात्र प्रयोग गर्नुपर्ने उनको भनाइ छ।
 

कोइरालाका अनुसार कुनै ब्याचमा गुणस्तरहीन देखिएका कतिपय पानी अर्को ब्याचमा गुणस्तरीय हुनसक्छन्। 'कुनै ब्याचको उत्पादनमा प्रशोधन प्रक्रियामै बढी रसायन परेको हुनसक्छ, त्यसले गुणस्तरमा असर पर्नसक्छ,' उनले भने।

प्रकाशित मिति : 2070/02/01

स्रोत :  नागरिक दैनिक 

Bird flu in Pokhara

Hundreds of diseased fowls were culled in Kaski’s Lekhnath Kalikachowk, following confirmation of bird flu in the area, on Tuesday. About 555 chickens and 40 kg chicken-feed were destroyed at a poultry farm owned by Basant Shrestha, said Dr Bansi Sharma, director, Regional Livestock Directorate. On Monday, the lab test confirmed bird flu in the dead fowls sent by the poultry farm seven days ago. Shrestha’s farm will be put under surveillance for three months. Dr Sharma said the farm owner will be compensated.

Published on: 14th May, 2013

Source: The Himalayan Times

More pollution in city air as people battling breathing problems

More pollution in city air as people battling breathing problems

KATHMANDU, MAY 06 -

Anu Shahi, 22, who lives in the Airport area in Kathmandu, would not worry about the occasional ‘breathing difficulty’ that she used to experience. She took it as most people in the city would do—casually.

The chokabloc traffic and the polluted air, made worse by the road expansion drive, might have something to do with the breathing problems, Shahi thought. “However, the condition became frequent and worse and went to a point where I felt like my breathing has stopped,” she told the Post. “I went to see a doctor and learnt that I had developed asthma.”

Shahi remained under medication for six months, until a week ago. She said she is faring well now.

With most of the road sections lying in a neglected state, the onset of the summer season and the strong winds mean an increase in respiratory problems and eye irritations due to the rising dust level in the valley. The Kathmandu Valley Town Development Implementation Committee (KVTDIC) has so far demolished and expanded 140 km of the road, among which only 15 km have been blacktopped. KVTDIC still plans to bulldoze 260 km as part of the expansion drive.

Madan Karki, 45, a patient of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), said he has stopped jogging on the roadsides ever since the road expansion work began in the Babarmahal area. “You cannot jog in the alleys here. At least in the morning your body demands an open space,” Karki said. “I tried it for a few days, but since my problem started to worsen I thought I should stop than to risk my life.” Chest specialist Dr Dirghasingh Bam said the dry environment, along with the debris following the road expansion, has added to the woes of people living in Kathmandu. 

“It is hard to say if people develop chronic respiratory diseases just because of the debris. However, I get young patients with respiratory problems and influenza, which is perhaps a result of the dusty environment everywhere around,” he said. “The haze is dangerous for patients suffering from asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases.” Dr Bam urged the government to complete some destroyed portions of the road first, before moving on to dig other areas.

Data at the Tribhuvan Univeristy Teaching Hospital show that 377 patients with COPD had been admitted in the hospital in 2011, while 548 had been admitted in 2012. The hospital says that since these are chronic patients and require special medical attention, many patients with minor problems visit the OPD of the hospital every day. 

Dr Kabir Nath Yogi, in-charge of the Respiratory Disease Unit at the hospital, said people are likely to develop breathing problems due to the dust. However, he said since people develop minor problems, most of them end up in diagnostic centres and clinics in their community instead of coming to the hospital. He said children are particularly prone to pneumonia due to the dust.

Chest specialist at the Bir Hospital Dr Kiran Manadhar said he sees many patients with recurring COPD. “Although the effect of the dust may not be seen immediately, there could be a big public health problem if the roads are left incomplete for a long time,” he said. “To patients with chronic pulmonary disease, all we can say is don’t get out of your homes.” Doctors suggest the use of clean face masks is the only option for the people to be safe. They also say that the masks have to be changed on a regular basis. 

Apart from respiratory diseases, eye infection remains a major problem. Further, the unmanaged roadside eateries and street food have complicated matters. Eye specialist at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital Dr Ananda Sharma said children visiting the hospital with allergic eyes is common these days.

Dr Sharma suggests people use protective sun glasses, while he says those riding motorcycles should use visors in their helmets.

Chief of the KVTDIC Bhai Kaji Tiwari said the road expansion drive has slowed down following complaints of health complications. “However, we will not stop bulldozing the encroached structures,” he said.

Source: The Kantipur Daily

Summer scares Water and food-borne diseases

Summer scares Water and food-borne diseases

MAY 06 - 

Summer has arrived in Kathmandu. With the temperature rising, fruits stalls have cropped up on road-sides, selling fresh juice and cut fruits. Ice cream parlours and cold-drink stores are crowded as well. Although the city’s road expansion drives have made the roads here dustier, people still flock to street-side food offerings. But there are consequences. Just a few weeks ago, we had lots of patients coming in for check-ups related to allergies and coughing provoked by the dusty streets. More recently, however, we’ve seen more and more cases of diarrhoea and abdominal pain, with or without vomiting—symptoms suggestive of gastroenteritis. Cases of typhoid are also on the rise, and sure to worsen with the advent of the monsoon. These food and water-borne diseases, after all, always pose a threat to people in summer months in a country like ours where conditions of food hygiene and water sanitation leave a lot to be desired. 

Drinking water is indispensible for human existence. But the Kathmandu Valley suffers major crises when it comes to its drinking water supply. Nearly all the surface and ground-water sources have been exploited, and the growing imbalance between supply and demand has led to shortages and intense competition that has further resulted in the pollution and qualitative degradation of drinking water in the Valley—a grave public health issue. The Valley has, in fact, earned the unfortunate moniker of being the ‘typhoid capital’ of the world. 

Diseases caused by contaminated water are among the 10 most prevalent in Nepal. These are largely caused by micro-organisms present in human or animal faeces that find their way into our bodies via the mouth (orally). This may happen through drinking from a contaminated water source (water-borne), but more often, faecal-oral diseases are spread through other routes as well—hands, clothes, food, or materials used in cooking, eating or drinking. These diseases are highly infectious, and can spread from one person to another. And the only way to prevent this would be to maintain high standards of hygiene and sanitation. 

The main water-borne/faeco-oral diseases in Nepal are typhoid fever, giardiasis, dysentery, diarrhoea, hepatitis and worms. These diseases are responsible for much morbidity and mortality in the country every summer. Diarrhoea, for instance, which refers to the passing of three or more loose stools per day, can lead to severe dehydration and the patient may need to be resuscitated in a hospital setting. Then you have typhoid, characterised by high-grade fever, vomiting, with or without diarrhoea; if it is not detected and treated in time, it could lead to complications like ulceration and bleeding in the intestine and perforation. Giardiasis, on the other hand, comprises of diarrhoea, loss of appetite and abdominal discomfort. If left untreated, it colonises the duodenum—the first part of the small intestine—and causes chronic mal-absorption. Meanwhile, hepatitis, commonly known as jaundice, is caused by the Hepatitis virus A and E, and can at times be very serious and life-threatening. Dystentry is what we define as the passing of frequent loose stools mixed with blood, and is associated with abdominal cramps. Treatment with appropriate drugs along with correction of dehydration is the usual line of management. And finally, we have the various types of parasitic worms that might cause pain in the abdomen and diarrhoea. The ova of these worms generally enter the human body via contaminated green vegetables, food and water.

Ultimately, lack of proper hand hygiene, use of contaminated sources of drinking water, and consumption of uncovered food with flies hovering all over—these are some of the causes of the increased incidence of the above-mentioned diseases in our country. In the absence of proper water supply, and proper monitoring of water at the government level, we need to be vigilant ourselves with regards to the water we drink and the food we eat. We should avoid buying from open food and fruit stalls that function on a limited supply of water of doubtful quality. We need to be sure about the quality of our water at the source and also in storage vessels. And flies are another of our worst enemies; all our food should be protected from them as far as possible. One of the easiest and cheapest ways to keep safe from water/food/fly-borne diseases is to revert to chlorinated drinking water. We should also remember to drink more water in general as a rule, as well as adhere to proper hand washing principles. And more emphasis certainly needs to be put on the availability and maintenance of toilets in Nepal. Only then can we be assured of a disease-free summer, and indeed good health all-year round. 

Dr Neopane is a Senior Consultant Physician at Norvic International Hospital

Source: The Kantipur Daily