Five new outbreaks of H5N8 highly pathogenic avian flu have been reported by the Taiwanese veterinary authority to the World Organisation for Animal Health in Follow-up Report No.14 dated 1 May. They started between 21 and 23 April.

In total, 94,960 birds were affected; 37,034 died and 57,926 have been destroyed.

Abnormal mortality was observed on poultry farms in the counties of Changhua (two farms) and Yunlin (three farms). One of the farms in Yunlin had geese; the other outbreaks were in native chickens.

On the same date, Taiwan reported five new outbreaks of H5N2 highly pathogenic avian flu in Follow up Report No.19.

Starting between 20 and 21 April, abnormal mortality was observed on four farms in Yunlin county and one in Changhua county.

One of the Yunlin outbreaks was in geese but the others were in native chickens – 69,324 birds in total.

In all, 21,851 of the birds on these farms died and 47,472 were destroyed.

For each suspected outbreak, Samples were sent to the national laboratory (Animal Health Research Institute; AHRI), which confirmed the subtype of the virus.

After confirmation, the farms were put under movement restrictions. All animals on the infected farms have been culled. Thorough cleaning and disinfection were conducted after the stamping-out operation.

Poultry farms within a 3-km radius of the infected farms will be under intensified surveillance for three months.