Sparrows and wild pigeons test positive again for highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
A case of the novel H5 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in a wild pigeon in the country, the first such case, and also the second case this year of a resident bird carrying the virus, following the recent discovery in Taichung of a sparrow carrying avian influenza virus. The Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine stressed that the virus carried by sparrows and wild pigeons is related to contact with migratory birds, and that if the public finds any, they should immediately report it to the local animal and plant epidemic prevention office for handling, and must not touch bird droppings or poultry carcasses.
In addition, this week there was another case of avian influenza detected at a red-feathered free-range chicken and turkey farm. The Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine stressed that the four consecutive avian influenza cases this week highlight the importance of implementing netting and disinfection procedures for entering and leaving poultry farms; contact between migratory birds and poultry must be blocked to properly keep the virus out.
Virus detected in wild pigeon and sparrow; Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine suspects migratory birds brought it in
Shih Tai-hua, deputy director-general of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, said that on the 7th, residents of Wenshan District, Taipei City, picked up 1 wild pigeon carcass on their rooftop; after it was reported and handled by the Taipei City Animal Protection Office and sent for testing, it was confirmed to be the novel H5 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza; disinfection work has already been carried out around the site where it was found.
Shih Tai-hua stressed that cases of avian influenza detected in pigeons in the past are very rare, that this case is a single isolated case, and that there are also no poultry farms within a radius of 3 km around the site where it was found, so it should be a case of a wild pigeon carrying the virus after contact with migratory birds.
And on the 8th, residents of Xitun District, Taichung City, also picked up 2 sparrow carcasses, which were confirmed and found to be H5 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza. Shih Tai-hua said that this type of virus is an older type of avian influenza, and based on this it is surmised that in the past migratory birds brought the virus to Taiwan, and contact with sparrows caused "resident birds" to carry the virus; visits and disinfection have also been carried out around the areas where they were picked up.
Shih Tai-hua said that if the public finds dead birds at their homes or in their living areas, whether wild pigeons or sparrows, they should try not to touch them with their hands; they should immediately report to the animal epidemic prevention unit of that county or city for handling by specialists, and if they accidentally touch the birds or bird droppings, they should immediately wash thoroughly with soap.
H5N2 highly pathogenic avian influenza detected in free-range chickens and turkeys
As for the 9th, H5N2 highly pathogenic avian influenza was also detected at one free-range chicken farm and one turkey farm in Yuanchang Township, Yunlin County, and Dacheng Township, Changhua County. Shih Tai-hua said that although both farms are non-open-style poultry farms, because disinfection of feed trucks was not implemented, the virus was brought into the rearing environment; more than 10,000 red-feathered free-range chickens and 848 turkeys have also been culled, and cleaning and disinfection work is being carried out.
Facing 4 consecutive avian influenza outbreaks within one week, with the outbreaks spreading from poultry farms to sparrows and wild pigeons living around the public, Shih Tai-hua said this highlights the importance of disinfection procedures for entering and leaving poultry farms, as well as netting and non-open-style rearing environments. "Many poultry farms are not properly netted, letting sparrows come into contact with poultry and eat feed together, which creates the possibility of mutual virus infection." Therefore, operators are still urged to implement the relevant regulations.