Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/01/04
By: Chen Cheng-wei and Romulo Huang

Taipei, Jan. 4 (CNA) Thousands of chickens have been culled on a farm in Yunlin County, central Taiwan, which was infected with the H5N8 avian influenza virus, the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) said Wednesday.

In a statement, the bureau said personnel from the Animal and Plant Disease Control Center in Yunlin inspected the chicken farm in Dounan Township on Jan. 1 after receiving information about an abnormal number of chicken deaths there.

Tests on specimens sent to the Animal Health Research Institute (AHRI) confirmed Wednesday that the farm was infected with the H5N8 subtype, a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, the bureau said.

It said the Animal and Plant Disease Control Center culled 23,000 chickens on the farm and disinfected the area, in accordance with standard operating procedure.    [FULL  STORY]