Avian influenza reports rise to 95 outbreaks; a free-range chicken farm in Changhua, Taiwan, China, suspected of infection, testing underway
The Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine announced this morning (1/15) that the number of reported avian influenza cases has risen to ninety-five, of which sixty-four have been confirmed and twenty-four have been culled. Avian influenza outbreaks have been reported in eight counties and cities across Taiwan, China. Yesterday a broiler chicken farm in Tainan was confirmed to be infected with an H5 subtype avian influenza virus, and today it was determined to be the old-type H5N2. Yesterday Changhua also reported a free-range chicken farm suspected of being infected with avian influenza; inspection and quarantine authorities have taken samples and testing is currently underway.
At today's post-Executive Yuan meeting press conference, Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Bao-ji also explained the supply and consumption of poultry products. He pointed out that the new-type H5N2 and H5N8 found for the first time in this wave of avian influenza in Taiwan do not show human-to-poultry transmission, and poultry meat and eggs can be safely eaten as long as they are cooked.
Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine Director-General Chang Shu-hsien said that since the recent outbreak of this wave of avian influenza, the latest number of reported cases today is ninety-five, an increase of nine from yesterday. The newly added cases are mainly meat goose farms: one in Taoyuan City, six in Chiayi County, and one in Pingtung County; the other newly added case is a free-range chicken farm in Changhua County.
The cumulative number of confirmed avian influenza cases totals sixty-four, including the twenty-five newly added yesterday that tested positive for H5 avian influenza subtypes. Among the confirmed cases, twenty-two are the H5N2 avian influenza subtype and ten are the H5N8 avian influenza subtype. The remaining thirty-two have currently tested positive for H5 avian influenza subtypes, and whether they are H5N2 or H5N8 is still under further testing.
Has avian influenza spread from ducks and geese to chickens? Tsai Hsiang-jung, director-general of the Council of Agriculture's Animal Health Research Institute, said that the test results for a broiler chicken farm in Tainan came out today, showing the old-type H5N2, with three basic amino acids detected in the gene sequence; if there were four or more basic amino acids it could be directly judged as highly pathogenic, but this Tainan chicken farm showed three basic amino acids, and inoculation tests will continue afterward before it can be determined whether it is highly pathogenic.
Although it cannot yet be determined whether it is highly pathogenic avian influenza, the mortality rate at this Tainan chicken farm was 24%, and culling measures had already been carried out earlier. Tsai Hsiang-jung explained that low-pathogenic avian influenza, if combined with other clinical factors such as rearing methods, can also cause high mortality. In addition, a free-range chicken farm in Changhua is suspected of being infected with avian influenza; samples were sent for testing yesterday, and results will only be known tomorrow.
After the Executive Yuan announced yesterday the establishment of an "avian influenza epidemic response center" and raised the epidemic prevention level, Vice Premier Chang San-cheng will convene an inter-ministerial meeting this afternoon. Chang Shu-hsien said that if the epidemic really spreads to chickens, the Council of Agriculture has also drafted an emergency import plan to ensure a stable supply of ducks and geese. The Consumer Protection Committee and the Fair Trade Commission are closely monitoring for any price gouging.
Regarding the current production and sales situation, Chiang Wen-chuan, a section chief of the Council of Agriculture's Department of Animal Industry, said everything is normal. After the resumption of waterfowl slaughter at noon yesterday, poultry products traded normally at the place of origin, and prices at the place of origin did not change. The price of goose meat at the place of origin before the slaughter ban was 62 yuan per Taiwanese catty, and after the resumption of slaughter it remained 62 yuan per Taiwanese catty. Supply at poultry wholesale markets was also normal, with no fluctuations in trading prices. Chiang Wen-chuan also urged retailers not to deliberately drive up goose meat prices.
At today's post-Executive Yuan meeting press conference, Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Bao-ji also explained the supply and consumption of poultry products. He pointed out that the new-type H5N2 and H5N8 found for the first time in this wave of avian influenza in Taiwan do not show human-to-poultry transmission. Since last year, similar outbreaks have occurred in South Korea, Japan, China, the EU and elsewhere, and citizens traveling to those places can still eat local poultry products there, and can eat them safely as long as they are cooked. He also stressed that after Taiwan's goose and duck slaughter underwent a two-and-a-half-day ban, following the resumption of slaughter at noon yesterday, operators were also required to attach health certificates for the poultry.
On the supply side, Chen Bao-ji said there has been no obvious change so far, but there may be a shortage in the supply of goose meat this summer. During this year's Lunar New Year holiday, an assessment will be made as to whether the supply of ducks and geese is short compared with the same period last year; halving tariffs and emergency imports are both feasible measures after assessment.