Cases of the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 have been detected in Sarpang Dzongkhag. This time it is in Pelrithang in Gelephu and Chuzargang Gewog. The first case was detected about a week ago in Namkhaling.
Last night a team of Livestock officials visited Chuzargang Gewog to cull birds after the highly pathogenic Avian Influnza H5N1 was detected in the gewog and Pelrithang.
The culling in Pelrithang was carried out on Thursday. Altogether 450 birds were culled. The coops were also destroyed and disinfection carried out.
But the people are worried since they have consumed the meat of dead birds. They said usually at this time of the year birds die from diarrhea and they thought it was the same this time too.
H5N1 was first detected at Namkhaling near the Indo Bhutan gate in Gelephu last week. Birds in the area were culled to prevent the spread of the disease. Forty nine people to whom the birds belonged were paid Nu. 96,000 today. Payments will also be made to the poultry owners in Pelrithang and Chuzargang Gewog.
To prevent the disease from spreading, the livestock officials carried out disinfection activity in the nearby areas. Meanwhile, investigations are underway to find where the bird flu started from.