In its Follow Up Report No. 4 dated 20 January to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the veterinary authority in Taiwan records 28 new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) of the H5N8 subtype between 10 and 15 January.

All but one of the outbreaks were on farms with breeding or fattening geese, with the exception being a duck farm.

The farms were all located on the western side of Taiwan, in the counties of located in the counties of Chiayi, Yunlin and Changhua and Tainan City.

A total of 109,344 birds were involved in these outbreaks; 31,414 died and 34,795 have been destroyed.

The report adds that abnormal mortality was observed in 28 waterfowl farms in Chang-Hua County, Yun-Lin County, Chia-Yi County, Tainan City, and Ping-Tung County. Samples were sent to the National Laboratory (Animal Health Research Institute; AHRI) for diagnosis. H5N8 subtype HPAI was confirmed by AHRI.

The farms have been put under movement restrictions. All animals on the infected farms will be culled. The actual numbers of culled animals will be available when stamping out operation is finished and be reported in the next follow-up report.

Thorough cleaning and disinfection will be conducted after stamping out operation. Surrounding poultry farms within three-kilometre radius of infected farms are under intensified surveillance for three months.