February 1: The price of chicken has dropped in Kathmandu after bird flu was detected in the capital. The Department of Livestock on Saturday had confirmed bird flu in a poultry farm in Sanglekhola of Tarkeshwar Municipality in the northern outskirts of Kathmandu.

The price of chicken had gradually increased to as much as Rs 370 per kilogram after the lockdown was lifted. The price has dropped to Rs 350 per kg after bird flu was reported on Saturday, January 30.

However, the Meat Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal says that bird flu alone is not the reason in falling price of chicken. Chairman of the association Jung Bahadur BC says chicken have not been infected so far and therefor urged the consumers not to panic. According to him, the government has confirmed bird flu among ducks, turkeys and quails but not among chicken.

Meanwhile, poultry farmers have become worried due to the emergence of bird flu when their business was finally picking up pace after suffering for a long time due to the impact of coronavirus and lockdown.

On the other hand, government authorities have sealed the infected area to prevent the virus from spreading.

Bird flu was detected in different places of India last month and the government had made all possible efforts to prevent the disease from entering Nepal. As the virus has already been detected in Nepal, the department has urged everyone involved in poultry business to transport chicken and other avian animals only after getting certificates from the concerned government bodies.