Bird Flu Cases on the Rise in Nepal: The Country's Only Zoo Closed

The recent surge in bird flu cases in Nepal is negatively impacting the country's livestock sector. Over 596,000 chickens and other poultry have been culled, and more than 1 million eggs have been destroyed due to outbreaks in various regions.According to Umesh Dahal, Director General of the Department of Livestock Services, bird flu cases have been reported in 11 districts, including three in the Kathmandu Valley, with the highest concentration around the capital. Dahal stated that the disease is suspected to have spread through crows, making it challenging to control their movement due to their presence in the wild.The only zoo in the capital city of Kathmandu has been closed for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision to close the zoo was made to protect public health amid the bird flu outbreak.