TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — After bird flu (H5N1) was discovered on Monday, 5,255 black-feather chickens were culled at a local poultry farm.
An abnormal chicken death was first reported in Dongshi Township last Friday. A laboratory report confirmed the chicken death was associated with bird flu, per BCC.
Yunlin County Animal and Plant Disease Control Center Director Liao Pei-chih (廖培志) said a poultry farmer reported the case. After laboratory confirmation, all chickens on the farm were culled, and the farm stopped operations.
To check for transmission, 55 poultry farms around the infected farm have been contacted. Specimen collection is soon to be conducted.
Liao said this is the first Yunlin bird flu case since the fall. Areas with intensive poultry breeding and wetlands inhabited by migratory birds are considered prime areas for bird flu transmission. Environmental disinfection operations were strengthened to reduce the concentration of bird flu virus in the air.
Poultry farmers are also encouraged to exercise vigilance, implement access control management, and strengthen the cleaning and disinfection of personnel and vehicles. Such measures can help prevent losses associated with mass culling.
Liao said the highly pathogenic bird flu is closely related to bird migration. Furthermore, northeasterly monsoon winds and low temperatures can cause poultry to experience stress and reduce disease resistance.
Poultry farmers are encouraged to monitor the health of their flock. If abnormalities are found, they should immediately report it to epidemic authorities.