Bird flu emergency declared in Nepal's capital

An avian flu emergency was declared in parts of Nepal's capital after fresh cases emerged in different areas of the Kathmandu valley, authorities said Saturday. The Animal Health Directorate said the decision meant that trading of birds was completely banned and culling ordered in the areas declared emergency zones, dpa reported. More than 50 cases of the H5N1 strain has been reported in the capital in past month in more than 200 poultry farms. Culling of birds has been stepped up in different parts of the country. The first case of the avian flu in Nepal was reported in January 2009. No human deaths due to the virus have been reported in the country so far. Worldwide, the virus has caused more than 370 human deaths, according to the World Health Organization.