KATHMANDU: The Nepal Veterinary Association has launched a free 24-hour hotline and teleconsultation service following the confirmation of bird flu infections in various districts, including the Kathmandu Valley.

The association said the service aims to provide official information, scientific consultation, and emergency technical assistance on bird flu, with a focus on animal health, public health, and protecting the poultry industry.

According to the association, the hotline targets farmers, poultry entrepreneurs, meat and egg consumers, and the general public, as bird flu is a highly infectious zoonotic viral disease that can directly affect the poultry sector.

The service is available through the toll-free hotline number 1159, with voluntary support from veterinary specialists in poultry science, avian diseases, epidemiology, and animal health.

The association has urged farmers, poultry entrepreneurs, and consumers to rely on official information and expert advice rather than rumors. It said the hotline has also been revived as part of a broader plan to develop a national telemedicine service for livestock.