Death toll rising: Poultry birds dying from Ranikhet

PINGRIO: Thousands of poultry suffering from Ranikhet disease die every day in Badin, Thatta, Tharparkar and Mirpurkhas districts of lower Sindh, leading to the closure of hundreds of poultry farms.

The disease has hit poultry in many areas including Pingrio, Tando Bago, Khoski and Nando.

Poultry farm owners have suffered huge economic losses and need immediate relief aid from the government to counter the disease and bolster their business.

Some poultry farm owners said that they were already in a financial crisis due to the low prices of broiler hen, while Ranikhet disease had added to their losses.

Ranikhet disease is a contagious and highly fatal disease of flows and is also suspected to cause conjunctivitis among laboratory workers and people handling infected birds.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2013.