TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) on Wednesday confirmed bird flu at a farm in Fengyuan District after abnormal chicken deaths went unreported.

CNA reported that inspectors moved in on Tuesday after receiving reports of mass chicken deaths at the farm, which housed more than 7,000 birds. About 1,700 chickens were found dead and test results later came back positive for avian influenza.

Lu said the city has set up a forward command post, carried out disinfection and ordered all chickens at the farm to be culled, according to Liberty Times. She said winter is a high-risk season and the city is inspecting all poultry farms to head off further outbreaks.

The city's Agriculture Bureau Director Li I-an (李逸安) said the operator admitted burying dead chickens on site and failing to report the deaths, which is against the law. The city will fine the farm between NT$50,000 (US$1,600) and NT$1 million and deny compensation for the culled birds, per UDN.

Health officials said eggs already sold, including those sold online, were recalled and destroyed, per Yahoo News. Five workers will undergo blood tests, while culling staff and workers will be monitored for seven days.

Officials urged the public to fully cook eggs and poultry products and said follow-up inspections and health checks will remain in place. They added that products from the affected batch had not entered wider distribution and the operator has offered refunds as a precaution.