Chickens infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza nearly entered the consumer market
Today (the 16th), under the influence of a strong continental cold air mass, temperatures have been falling steadily, but the avian influenza outbreak has also been heating up. Last night (the 15th), two Golden Chickens were confirmed to have avian influenza on the slaughter line at the Taipei City poultry wholesale market, and this morning a suspected case was also reported at the Taishan slaughterhouse in New Taipei City.
In the past, avian influenza was destroyed as soon as it was found at the place of origin, but this time it flowed into the slaughterhouse without being reported. Fortunately, it had not yet entered the consumer market. The Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) of the Council of Agriculture stated that Taipei City has already destroyed all of the suspected and confirmed birds, 32 in total, while New Taipei City still has to wait for the report results and is currently carrying out disinfection operations in the site area. Follow-up tracing of the sources of the two sites showed they came from Mailiao in Yunlin and Pitou in Changhua, respectively, and poultry farms and slaughterhouses in various places have also been asked to strictly block the avian influenza outbreak.
Avian influenza chickens found on the slaughter line confirmed as H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza
Yesterday (the 15th), on the slaughter line at the Taipei City poultry wholesale market, two Golden Chickens were found to have abnormal poultry internal organs, and after sampling, they were confirmed to be H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza.
BAPHIQ Deputy Director-General Shih Tai-hua stated that there were about 700 Golden Chickens in that batch, and after the 2 abnormal ones were found, further inspections were carried out, and finally 32 were determined to be possibly infected with avian influenza. After the confirmation report came out, all 32 had been destroyed.
Further tracing upstream showed that they came from a certain poultry farm in Mailiao, Yunlin, but what were the farm's rearing environment and scale? Had netting and disinfection measures been implemented? And had it supplied goods to other downstream buyers? All of this still awaits follow-up tracing and clarification.
Shih Tai-hua explained that after a poultry farm carries out slaughter operations, professional veterinarians will inspect the poultry internal organs one by one, and any with doubts will be intercepted and sampled, "and this is also the last checkpoint before flowing into the consumer market, ensuring that consumers will not buy poultry carcasses with avian influenza."
After the incident occurred, that slaughter line will suspend slaughtering for 24 hours in accordance with regulations, and disinfection and site-clearing operations must be fully carried out before 7 p.m. tonight. BAPHIQ also, shortly before the start of winter, required all slaughterhouses and poultry farms to pay close attention to avian influenza.
Today, the Taishan slaughterhouse in New Taipei City also reported a "suspected" case of black-feathered native chickens showing symptoms of avian influenza. BAPHIQ Director-General Chang Su-hsien stated: "There is currently no confirmed diagnosis yet, and we must wait for follow-up reports to determine it."
Chang Su-hsien said that the poultry in New Taipei City came from Pitou, Changhua, and part of it was sent to Taipei City for slaughter, but after Taipei City discovered the abnormality, preventive culling was carried out before slaughter; New Taipei City also assessed that there were abnormalities and carried out freezing for storage and sending for testing, and after slaughter the plant area must also undergo thorough cleaning and disinfection.