Kinmen bird flu almost same as Vietnam's strain

The strain of the avian flu virus that was found in red-faced ducks apparently smuggled into Kinmen in December is almost identical to the strain in Vietnam that has jumped from chickens into humans and caused several deaths, the Council of Agriculture (COA) said yesterday.

According to the council's Animal Health Research Institute, results of genetic sequencing tests performed on six ducks found on Dec. 21 showed the virus to be a 96 percent match with the virus found in Vietnam.

Where infected ducks came from remains uncertain. The coast guard found them floating in the ocean off Kinmen. Offshore Kinmen County has become a distribution center for agricultural products from China.

Officials that smuggling bird-related products from China is dangerous and that information about avian flu in China remains sketchy. Officials also said that the Taiwanese government must keep abreast of WHO reports on the situation in China.

Because avian flu virus has also jumped to humans in Shanghai, where many Taiwanese businessmen and their families live, officials said people living there should avoid contact with live birds.

"However, there is no need to panic regarding human-to-human contact. It's not confirmed that the avian flu virus is communicable between humans," institute director Lin Shih-yu (林士鈺) said.

Lin that if it is impossible to avoid contact with live birds, washing your hands is one of best ways to prevent infection.

Agriculture urged people to avoid visiting bird farms in countries affected by the spread of the virus.

The discovery of H5N2, a weak strain of avian flu, on farms in many rural Taiwan counties last month triggered public reluctance to purchase poultry products.

Two ago, the council put into effect a special production and marketing mechanism designed to keep poultry prices stable. To further alleviate problems stemming from decreased sales of poultry, agriculture officials said low-interest loans would be offered to affected poultry wholesalers and retailers.

"Currently, Taiwanese bird-related products are being rejected by many places, including Hong Kong and Japan. Loans with interest rates of under 2 percent will be provided soon," Chen Hsing-hao (陳幸浩), director of the council's Animal Industry Department, said.

Loans also be provided to individuals in the livestock products sector if needed, Chen said.

Council Deputy Minister Hu Fu-hsiung (胡富雄) yesterday said that the public should remain calm because H5N2 cannot survive in the meat of properly-cooked ducks and chickens. Officials said that the avian flu virus dies at temperatures higher than 80?C.

Meanwhile, a Department of Health (DOH) official said yesterday the government plans to offer free flu inoculations to children under 10 starting in October.

Shih Wen-yi (施文儀), deputy director of the DOH's Center for Disease Control, said foreign clinical records show that 6- and 7-year-olds have a high risk of contracting avian flu.

Given situation, Shih said, the DOH is scheduled to hold a meeting of specialists Tuesday to discuss measures to prevent avian flu from infecting young children.

At the meeting, the proposal to have children younger than 10 inoculated with flu vaccines is expected to be approved, Shih said.

Shih that humans do not have antibodies against the bird flu virus. Those who contract the virus, particularly young children, are likely to develop the disease.

"Therefore, we have tentatively decided to offer free bird flu vaccine shots to children under 10," Shih said.

The nation has in the past offered free flu vaccinations to people 65 and over and several other high-risk groups, including medical personnel and poultry farmers.