The veterinary authority in Taiwan has sent three reports to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), updating the situation on highly pathogenic avian influenza in the country.

There has been one new outbreak involving the H5N3 variant of the virus. On 19 February, abnormal mortality was observed among a flock of 14,000 native chickens in Yanpu Township, which is in Pingtung county. A total of 3,992 birds died and the rest have been destroyed.

Twenty new outbreaks of disease caused by the H5N2 virus subtype between 12 and 19 February. Most of the outbreaks were in geese but native chickens and ducks were also affected.

In total, 109,010 birds were affected; 34,524 died and 74,486 were destroyed. The outbreaks were in the counties of Hsinchu, Changhua, Yunlin, Chiayi and Pingtung as well as Tainan City and Kaohsiung City, all located on the western side of Taiwan.

The H5N8 virus variant was identified of a further four outbreaks of high-path avian flu between 13 and 18 February.

Located in the counties of Nantou and Yunlin as well as Tainan City, 15,825 breeding geese and chickens died on the affected farms while 26,675 were destroyed.

In each case, affected farms have been put under movement restrictions. All animals on the infected farm have been culled and thorough cleaning and disinfection have been conducted after stamping out operation. Surrounding poultry farms within a three-kilometre radius of each outbreak will be under intensified surveillance for three months.