The Taiwanese veterinary authority has made made a sent two Follow-up Reports to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) covering the latest outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

For the H5N2 variant, there were six new outbreaks of disease, starting between 19 February and 4 March. Three of the outbreaks were in native chickens, two in geese and one in ducks. In total, 50,690 birds were involved of which, 15,363 died and 35,327 have been destroyed.

The report explains that abnormal mortality was observed on the six poultry farms in the counties of Changhua Yunlin, Hsinchu and Chiayi. Samples were sent to the National Laboratory (AHRI) for diagnosis and the H5N2 subtype HPAI was confirmed.

There were three new outbreaks caused by the H5N8 subtype of the virus between 1 and 4 March.

Abnormal mortalities were observed in three poultry farms – two with geese and one with native chickens – in the counties of Yunlin and Pingtung. AHRI confirmed the presence of the high-path H5N8 subtype of the virus.

Of the 30,250 birds on the affected farms, 15,987 died and 14,263 have been destroyed.

Each of the farms has been put under movement restrictions. All animals on the infected farms have been culled. Thorough cleaning and disinfection have been conducted after stamping out operation. Surrounding poultry farms within a three-kilometre radius of infected farms are under intensified surveillance for three months.