Tainan White Broiler Chicken Farm Confirmed with H5 Subtype Avian Influenza; Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine Orders Pools and Co-Raised Fish to Be Destroyed as Well
A white-feathered broiler chicken farm in Yanshui District, Tainan City, China reported an abnormal die-off of chickens the day before yesterday. This evening, the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine held a press conference and confirmed that the farm was infected with the H5 subtype avian influenza virus. Although it was not confirmed to be the highly pathogenic H5N2 or H5N8 avian influenza, the farm's mortality rate reached more than 20 percent, so it was decided to carry out culling measures.
This white-feathered broiler farm in Tainan, China raises a total of 17,000 chickens. The day before yesterday, 2,500 three-week-old chicks died. After the owner reported it, the Animal Health Research Institute conducted specimen testing yesterday, and the results were announced this evening, confirming infection with the H5 subtype avian influenza virus.
Council of Agriculture strongly states: operators must not maliciously discard dead diseased poultry
Chang Shu-hsien, director-general of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, said that from the day before yesterday to today, the farm's mortality rate rose from 12% to 24%, and combined with the confirmed H5 diagnosis, it was decided to adopt culling measures. In addition, the twenty poultry farms within three kilometers of this farm will all need to attach health certificates before future slaughter.
As for the disinfection of poultry farms infected with avian influenza and the handling of dead poultry, cases of discarded dead poultry have been reported in Yunlin. Chen Pao-chi, minister of the Council of Agriculture, strongly stated that if operators maliciously discard them, they will be fined under the Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases and the Business Waste Act, and the matter will be referred to local governments for strict handling. He called on operators to act in accordance with the regulations, saying, "No excuse whatsoever can justify dumping dead diseased poultry in public areas."
Waterfowl ponds require whole-farm disinfection; co-cultured tilapia must also be culled
As for the disinfection work at poultry farms in this wave of avian influenza, Hsieh Kuai-le, professor emeritus in the Department of Veterinary Medicine at National Chung Hsing University, believes that if poultry manure is not properly handled, the virus will spread rapidly. The pond water at waterfowl farms absolutely must not be released, and he suggested adding quicklime for disinfection.
Regarding the disinfection work for poultry farm ponds, operators of two avian influenza-infected poultry farms in Chiayi responded by asking whether the tilapia co-cultured in the ponds also had to be culled. The Chiayi County Agriculture Department said that the tilapia are not being culled to prevent avian influenza infection, but rather to ensure comprehensive disinfection of the poultry farm.
Yang Wen-yuan, section chief of the Animal Epidemic Prevention Section of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, said in response that some ponds at waterfowl farms also co-culture aquatic products such as tilapia. Although fish do not become infected with avian influenza, the surface of the fish may carry avian influenza virus, and eating them could pose a food safety risk. Therefore, when disinfecting poultry farm ponds, the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine will require operators to directly discard the aquatic products in the ponds.
Yang Wen-yuan, section chief of the Animal Epidemic Prevention Section of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, said that some ponds at waterfowl farms also co-culture aquatic products such as tilapia. Although fish do not become infected with avian influenza, the surface of the fish may carry avian influenza virus, and eating them could pose a food safety risk. Therefore, when disinfecting poultry farm ponds, the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine will require operators to directly discard the aquatic products in the ponds. When Hsieh Kuai-le, professor emeritus in the Department of Veterinary Medicine at National Chung Hsing University, was asked whether the tilapia in the ponds of infected poultry farms needed to be destroyed, he said there has been no research showing that avian influenza virus infects fish.
Chen Pao-chi, minister of the Council of Agriculture, also said that the tilapia raised in ponds at poultry farms are not the main product, and considering comprehensive disinfection of the poultry farms, these fish also need to be handled. As for whether there will be compensation for the affected fish, local governments will hold meetings with the Fisheries Agency, but Chen Pao-chi, minister of the Council of Agriculture, said there is currently no compensation.