In order to make advance arrangements to prevent avian influenza, the National Defense Inspection and Quarantine Office launched the "Enhanced Avian Influenza Prevention Measures in Autumn and Winter"; the picture shows Taoyuan City epidemic prevention personnel culling guinea fowl in accordance with regulations. (Photo provided by Taoyuan City Government)
In the face of the global H5N1 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza that is still severe, the Animal and Plant Inspection and Quarantine Service of the Ministry of Agriculture stated today (25th) that based on the analysis of past international epidemics, the risk of H5N1 avian influenza this winter is still high. In order to reduce the occurrence and spread of the epidemic, To prevent the spread of the risk, advance arrangements have been made to initiate "strengthened bird flu prevention measures in autumn and winter" from September to March 31 next year, including inventory and preparation, and increased poultry farm monitoring, wild bird transit warnings, etc. The industry is urged to cooperate. Violators may be fined up to NT$1 million.
The Prevention and Control Department explains that due to the large temperature changes in autumn and winter, which can easily cause high stress for poultry, and it is also the main season for migratory wild birds, avian influenza is mainly transmitted across borders through the migration of migratory wild birds carrying pathogens. If operators fail to implement biosafety operations in poultry farms, it is easy for pathogens to invade poultry farms. Therefore, this year we will continue to work with local governments to implement the "Strengthened Prevention Measures for Avian Influenza in Autumn and Winter."
The Prevention and Inspection Administration stated that the epidemic prevention measures include a "preparation period": inventory and deployment of epidemic prevention resources, education and training, increasing inspections of high-risk poultry species (quails, laying hens, native chickens), rolling adjustments to the scope of hot zones, and conducting biosafety promotion for foreign employees. "Response Measures Period": Increase monitoring of poultry farms, timely issue warnings for transiting wild birds, carry out disinfection operations in local public areas in avian influenza hotspots, strengthen biosecurity inspections in high-risk sites, and cooperate with industry supervision members to implement on-site cleaning and disinfection to interrupt the chain of virus transmission.
In addition, the Prevention and Inspection Office pointed out that a guinea fowl farm in Dayuan District, Taoyuan City proactively reported the diagnosis of highly pathogenic avian influenza of the H5N1 subtype. The Taoyuan City Animal Protection Department followed the procedures and destroyed a total of 2,616 guinea fowls aged 4 to 16 weeks, and supervised the operators to complete the cleaning and disinfection of the farm area. So far in September, only one case of avian influenza has been diagnosed and culled in poultry farms.
The Prevention and Inspection Department calls on operators to cooperate with the government's various epidemic prevention measures and independently observe the health status of poultry on the farm every day. If any abnormalities are found, report them immediately and handle them immediately to facilitate the control and prevention of the spread of the disease. Those who fail to report in accordance with the regulations will not be compensated for the culling of animals in accordance with the "Regulations on the Prevention and Control of Animal Infectious Diseases" and will not be compensated, and may be fined up to NT$1 million.
