Pakistan's poultry sector is facing a Rs 10 billion (US$106.5 million) loss for the February–May period due to the spread of Newcastle disease in the country, according to reports.
Roughly 44 million broiler chickens have died of the disease in that time period, said Dr. Waseem Rafiq, president of the Pakistan Veterinary Medical Association. There is a dire need, said Rafiq, to protect the chickens by increasing their immunity, and not just improving abilities at the diagnosis level. He is calling for proper training for farmers in the country, along with the introduction of modern technology to the poultry industry.
