RAWALPINDI, April 22: Over 20,000 chickens were culled on Saturday following confirmation of H5N1 strain of avian influenza virus at three poultry farms in the outskirts of the federal capital.

Official sources told Dawn that samples examined at the Poultry Research Institute in Rawalpindi and later re- evaluated at the National Reference Laboratory confirmed the presence of bird flu at two poultry farms in Tarlai and one in Alipur Farash. This brings the total number of affected farms in Tarlai and Alipur Farash to 13.

The sources said five more suspected farms in Tarlai and Alipur Farash had been quarantined. Further action would be taken immediately after clinical evidence, they said. The district administration has posted police in the affected areas.

However the health ministry officials denied any incidence of the deadly avian influenza virus in humans, though nine suspected patients have been admitted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Rawalpindi General Hospital so far.

The spokesman for the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Dr Mohammad Afzal, told Dawn that “the situation was not alarming. Such a situation could only emerge if the epidemic is spread over large poultry farms. So far it is restricted to small farms”. At the same time, he said, protective measures were taken, and no human case had been detected.

Dr Mohammad Aslam, a member of Pakistan Poultry Association, expressed his deep concern over the situation, and alleged that the government was not helping the farmers in controlling the viral disease. He claimed that no vaccine was presently available in the market, due to which farmers were facing serious problems in vaccinating flocks.

The government, he said, had made assurances that the vaccine would be made available by the end of April. The vaccines were being produced at the Veterinary Research Institute in Lahore, Sindh Vaccine Centre in Karachi and four private laboratories.

The government had allowed import of three types of vaccines but these were not available in the market. The vaccine being produced in the country is expected to cost poultry farmers Re0.25 paisa per dose, and would help control the spread of bird flu, he said.

Replying to a question, Dr Aslam said the poultry industry was suffering a loss of Rs50 million daily. He said the consumption of poultry and eggs had declined sharply. Small poultry farmers were selling their flocks at throw-away prices due to non-availability of vaccines and costly feed.