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Government targets animal smuggling to stop disease

While Taiwan is under the shadow of SARS again after China's first suspected case this year came to light, officials at the Council of Agriculture (COA) said yesterday the government's efforts to seize smuggled animals will be strength-ened in order to protect the nation from being threatened by other infectious diseases, such as bird flu.

According to the council's Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, China and other neighboring countries are areas affected by major epidemic diseases, such as the deadly bird flu and rabies, which can be communicated from animals to humans.

The bureau's deputy director-general, Yeh Ying (葉瑩), told the Taipei Times that it had not confirmed that SARS was associated with any specific animal, but that Taiwan will be alert in all possible regards.

"Smuggling animals might be dangerous not only to Taiwan's livestock industry, but also to people's health," Yeh said.

Last year, more than 200 smuggled animals were discovered and destroyed in Taiwan. Among them, six red-faced ducks were seized in outlying Kinmen County December last year. The ducks were destroyed after bureau officials took samples from the animals for examination. Later, it was confirmed that one of the six ducks was contaminated by the bird flu virus H5N1, which can be passed from animals to humans.

In addition, about 60 foreign dogs were seized in mainland Taiwan and Kinmen and Matsu counties earlier this year. They were killed without being processed for health examinations in order to keep the nation from being threatened by rabies and other diseases.

Yeh said the scenario showed that domestic animals and people in Taiwan had been seriously threatened by the smuggling of animals from neighboring countries.

Although bird flu becomes less of a threat in the warmer seasons, people should remain keep alert to it, Yeh said.

In addition, agricultural officials and the coast guard will work together to strengthen animal quarantine tasks at all seaports and international airports, Yeh said.

"If you have no choice but to carry an animal into Taiwan from a foreign country, you must report it at a quarantine station because Taiwan can't afford any risks," Yeh said.

Yeh said that agricultural officials would also inspect domestic markets randomly in order to ferret out possible sources of infectious diseases.

To prevent infectious disease outbreaks, the COA has established a hotline for people to report cases of animal-smuggling. The number is 0800-039-131.
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