Focus Taiwan
Date 2019/01/26
By: Lu Kang-chun and Ko Lin

Photo courtesy of Hsinchu County Animal Disease Control Center

Taipei, Jan. 26 (CNA) Samples taken from some 100 dead chickens recently found discarded near a stream in Hsinchu have come back testing positive for avian influenza infection, the county’s Animal Disease Control Center said Saturday.

Peng Cheng-yu (彭正宇), an official with the disease control center, said the carcasses have been identified as infected with the H5 strain of avian flu, a pathogenic virus that is causing global concern as a potential pandemic threat.

Farms inspected within three kilometers of the site were disinfected and cleared of any virus activity, Peng said.

According to the official, the dead birds were found abandoned near a stream in the county’s Xinfeng Township by members of the public earlier this week, who then reported the incident to authorities.    [FULL  STORY]