The Taiwanese veterinary authority sent an Immediate Notification dated 21 January to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

The report describes an outbreak of LPAI in a flock of 49,000 birds in Fang-Yuan township in Chang-Hua on the western side of Taiwan. Starting on 9 January, 3,000 birds showed symptoms and 1,915 of them died.

The H5N2 sub-type of the virus has been identified.

According to the report, Samples have been collected and sent to the national laboratory for active surveillance. The haemagglutination inhibition test, RT-PCR, real-time RT-PCR tests and virus isolation have been completed. The positive results of laboratory tests and low mortality demonstrate that the causal agent of this outbreak is low pathogenic avian influenza virus. Nevertheless, for confirming the virulence of the virus, IVPI test and gene sequencing are on the way and the results will be provided to the OIE in the follow up report.

This outbreak is co-infected with chicken infectious anemia, mycoplasma and avian infectious bronchitis. Disinfection and cleaning of this farm has been conducted and completed. Movement control has been also implemented. Nineteen poultry farms within one-kilometre radius of the index farm have been under vigilant monitoring and no clinical or epidemiological evidence of infection has been found.

The last outbreak of the disease on Taiwan was in November 2008.

Further Reading

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