#13,749
Although long plagued by sporadic outbreaks of (mostly low path) avian flu, in 2015 Taiwan saw the arrival of at least 3 new HPAI strains of H5. While the number of outbreaks has dropped markedly since then, this year Taiwan has reported more than 95 outbreaks of (mostly) HPAI H5N2.
Unlike Mainland China - which is the world's largest consumer of poultry AI vaccines - Taiwan prefers to use the OIE recommended methods of strict quarantine and culling.It's a policy, that to be effective, must be strictly adhered to. Unfortunately, as the following report overnight from Taiwan's BAPHIQ illustrates, the first inclination of some farmers has been to conceal outbreaks, not to report them.
Chiayi discards dead chickens and diagnoses bird flu. Those who violate the law will be fined.
The Animal and Plant Epidemic and Quarantine Bureau said today (21) that the Chiayi County Livestock Disease Prevention and Control Institute received a notice from the public on the 18th, and found a case of discarded dead chicken in the wild pond of Shenkeng Village, Zhongpu Township.
The test results of the chickens were sent to the Animal Health Laboratory. It was diagnosed as H5N2 subtype high pathogenic avian influenza. The local prevention and treatment center has completed the disinfection work in the area, and strengthened visits to poultry farms within a radius of 3 km, and continued to trace the source poultry farms.
The Anti-inspection Bureau calls on the poultry industry to maintain the safety of the whole poultry industry within the jurisdiction. If there is abnormal death in raising poultry, it should take the initiative to notify the local animal epidemic prevention authorities for immediate disposal. Do not arbitrarily discard the dead poultry and avoid the spread of immunity.
Anyone who arbitrarily discards dead birds will not be notified of the abnormal death of poultry in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Protection Regulations. In addition, according to Article 43 of the Regulations on the Prevention and Control of Animal Infectious Diseases, the maximum penalty is NT$1 million. In the case of bird flu detected in poultry, the culling of poultry will not be compensated according to the provisions of Article 40 of the Regulations.
Almost non-stop avian flu activity since 2015 has driven some desperate poultry farmers to try to circumvent the law in other ways - something we looked at a little over three years ago in Taiwan COA Warns Against Importation & Use Of AI Vaccines.
Eight months ago, in Taiwan's Counterfeit AI Vaccine Trade, we looked (again) at the growing use of illegal and/or counterfeit poultry vaccines on that avian flu wracked island nation.Today Taiwan's media are reporting on the unusual indictment and arrest of a several college professors who are accused of manufacturing, and selling, illicit AI poultry vaccines.
The first (translated) report comes from the China Times.
Private bird flu vaccine sold, 6 professors of Jiada University were accused
December 21, 2018 19:11 Zhongshi Hong Rongzhi
Professor Zhang Xing, Assistant Professor of the Department of Bio-Agricultural Science and Technology of Chiayi University, and Professor Guo Xing, from the Department of Veterinary Medicine, were accused of illegally manufacturing avian flu and other vaccines in cooperation with the biotechnology industry in the absence of the approval of the Council of Agriculture. Duck farmers and other duck farmers are playing.
After the investigation by the Tainan District Inspection Office, on the 21st, in accordance with the Law on the Administration of Animal Drugs, a total of 6 people from Zhang, Guo, biotechnology and large duck farmers were prosecuted.
The prosecution said that the current domestic anti-epidemic policy still prohibits the use of any bird flu vaccine to avoid virus mutation, but Zhang and Guo, who have professional knowledge, use the opportunity of industry-university cooperation to instruct the research team to be illegal in the laboratory. Make the relevant vaccine and transfer it to the well-known duck farmer for injection.
(Continue . . . .)
Another (translated) report comes from the Apple Daily.
rare! Illegal manufacture of avian flu vaccine University professors are being prosecuted with large duck farmers(Continue . . . )
Publication time: 2018/12/21 18:38
Zhang Wenxing, an assistant professor of agricultural science at Chiayi University, and Guo Hongzhi, a professor at the Department of Veterinary Medicine, were accused of failing to approve the avian flu vaccine with the biotechnology industry and industry, and sold it to domestic duck farmers Li Tairan and other ducks from 2015. The farmer hit the duck.
According to the police investigation and investigation, the Tainan District Inspection Office today filed a public prosecution against a total of 6 people, including Zhang, Guo, and biotech companies and large duck farmers, in violation of the Animal Drug Administration Law.
The prosecution pointed out that Taiwan's domestic epidemic prevention policy prohibits the use of any bird flu vaccine to avoid virus mutation. However, Zhang Wenxing (55), assistant professor of the Department of Biological Agriculture Science and Technology of Chiayi University, and Professor Guo Hongzhi (44), a professor of veterinary medicine, use their expertise to make use of it.
When it comes to bad ideas, a home brewed AI vaccine ranks high on the list, even if it was created by college professors. Frankly, if you wanted to spark a new epizootic (or worse, a pandemic), it would be hard to come up with a better scheme.
