#19,034
Yesterday, in quick succession, we learned (a) that 235 dead (H5N1 infected) chickens were dumped in a Miaoli County, Taiwan drainage ditch and (b) that an egg farm in neighboring Taichung County, had been hiding an outbreak of H5N1 by burying dead chickens on site.
Today, amid concerns that thousands of eggs may have been sold (and many consumed) during the 17 days which this outbreak appears to have been concealed, there is a fresh report of another 1,000+ birds buried in Miaoli County.
It appears, from the reporting, that the Taichung Fengkang Livestock Farm at No. 906, Waipu Section, Houlong is the source of all 3 incidents. A brief (2 min.) English language Formosa News report is available on YouTube.
The latest (translated) report from the Miaoli County Govt. website follows:
A thousand dead chickens were unearthed in Waipu, Houlong County. The county magistrate ordered that the case be handled strictly.Person in charge: Zheng Zhongcai, Head of the Livestock Section, Agriculture Division
Contact number: 037-351618
Last published on: 115-01-29 17:47
A thousand dead chickens were buried in Houlong Waipu. On the 29th, the Miaoli County Government attempted to excavate and dispose of the chickens, but the landowner refused. Miaoli County Magistrate Chung Tung-chin was furious upon learning of this and called it outrageous. He instructed the Agriculture Department to report the case to the police and prosecutors for assistance, emphasizing that the case would be investigated as a criminal case and that the landowner would be severely punished. He also called on the Taichung City Government to take stronger measures to severely punish Fengkang Ranch.
On the 28th, the Miaoli Animal Protection and Disease Control Center received an official document from the Taichung Animal Protection Office notifying them that Taichung Fengkang Livestock Farm at No. 906, Waipu Section, Houlong had illegally buried 1,150 chickens. The center immediately went to the site to clean up and seal off the area, and took samples from chicken farms within a 3-kilometer radius of the location for testing. The center also notified the perpetrator and the landowner to come to the site the following day to give their opinions.
On the 29th, the Agriculture Department was refused excavation by the landowner, so they went to the scene with the police to excavate. They soon unearthed chicken carcasses. The epidemic prevention personnel put the chicken carcasses in bags on site, sent them for incineration, carried out disinfection work on site, and cordoned off the area.
Agriculture Director Chen Shuyi explained that after the excavation is completed, the number of chickens will be thoroughly counted to prevent the occurrence of diseases and pests. The cleanup work will also be completed to reassure the villagers. Currently, in addition to imposing a maximum fine of NT$1 million on the landowner in accordance with the law, the case will also be referred to the District Prosecutor's Office for investigation in accordance with the Waste Disposal Act.
Miaoli County Magistrate Chung Tung-chin stated that the spread of fowl plague to Miaoli County has caused significant losses to the county's chicken farming industry. He emphasized that infectious diseases pose a public health risk, and in addition to imposing heavy penalties, Miaoli County hopes that the Taichung City Government will take strong measures to prevent more unscrupulous operators from causing such incidents and further exacerbating the disaster, which not only harms chicken farmers but also poses a threat to society. The magistrate stressed that regardless of what happens, the county and city governments must coordinate and cooperate effectively to stop the fowl plague from spreading further.
From adjacent Hsinchu County (borders Miaoli county to the north) we get the following response from their Animal Protection and Disease Control Center.
In response to the avian influenza outbreak, Hsinchu County immediately activated its enhanced disease prevention mechanism.
Release Date: 115-01-29
Following a recent outbreak of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza at a poultry farm in Taichung City, the Hsinchu County Animal Protection and Disease Control Center immediately activated its enhanced disease prevention mechanism. An investigation revealed that all poultry farms in the county are currently operating normally, and no suspected cases have been reported. The center is simultaneously strengthening patrols and monitoring, conducting regular blood sampling tests, and expanding environmental disinfection measures. The center also urges poultry farmers and the public not to panic.
In the "strengthened inspection and monitoring" section, epidemic prevention personnel have increased the frequency of visits to densely populated poultry farming areas within the county, supervising poultry houses to implement bird-proofing facilities and block the transmission route through contact between wild birds and poultry. In addition, through "regular sampling and blood testing," the dynamics of the epidemic are proactively monitored. The Animal Protection Office dispatches personnel to conduct regular sampling and blood testing of poultry in high-risk farms within its jurisdiction, and conducts accurate testing in the laboratory to achieve effective early warning before an outbreak occurs, thus protecting the safety of the poultry industry.
At the same time, "environmental disinfection has been expanded," with disinfection vehicles being dispatched to strengthen environmental spraying operations around important connecting roads, sorting yards, and poultry wholesale markets within the jurisdiction, in order to block the risk of the virus spreading across counties and cities via vehicles or personnel.
The Animal Protection Office also urges poultry farmers in the county to strengthen their self-management of biosecurity and strictly enforce personnel and vehicle access control and disinfection. If any poultry are found to have abnormal deaths, decreased feed intake, or decreased water consumption, or other suspected outbreaks, please immediately report to the Animal Protection Office (Tel: 03-5519548). According to the Animal Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, those who proactively report and confirm the disease can apply for compensation for culling; those who conceal or fail to report or dispose of the disease privately will not receive compensation and may be fined up to NT$1 million.
The Animal Protection and Quarantine Center also reminds the public to purchase poultry meat with the "Agency for Animal Health Inspection and Quarantine Slaughtering Certificate" and to practice the hygiene habit of "cooking poultry and eggs thoroughly." The Hsinchu County Animal Protection and Quarantine Center will continue to be at the forefront of epidemic prevention and control, working closely with various counties and cities to ensure the stability of Hsinchu County's industries.
While no figures have been released on the number of potentially contaminated eggs that have been sold, the farm reportedly had 7,000 layers, which (if healthy) would be expected to produce 5500+ eggs a day.
Even assuming losses (reportedly 1,700), and lower production due to illness, 3000-4000 eggs a day could reasonably be expected (x) 17 days = 51,000 - 68,000 eggs.
Fully cooked, these eggs should be safe for consumption, but there is an (admittedly, slight) risk that handling these eggs could expose someone to the virus.
In the past we've seen millions of eggs recalled over similar concerns, including Bulgaria To Recall 1 Million Eggs Due To HPAI H5N8 and Denmark: DVFA Destroying Hundreds Of Thousands Of Imported Eggs.
Hopefully this will be the end of the story, but we'll be keeping close watch for the next couple of weeks as dozens of farm workers, cullers, and poultry disposal personnel are monitored for the virus.
Stay tuned.
