More than 100,000 quails were culled after a reported abnormal death at a quail farm in Changhua County was identified to have contracted the H5N1 avian influenza virus, the Changhua County Animal Protection Office said on Wednesday.
A quail farm in Lugang Township (鹿港) reported an abnormal death of a quail on Saturday last week, the office said.
Samples of the dead quail were sent to the Veterinary Research Institute and tested positive for the H5N1 avian influenza virus on Tuesday, it said.
Photo courtesy of the Changhua County Animal Protection Office
As of Wednesday, a total of 104,206 quails at the farm had been culled to prevent the virus from spreading, the office said, adding that it had guided the farm operator to clean and disinfect the environment.
Given that high temperatures in recent days could cause stress in poultry, operators should ensure proper cooling and ventilation at their farms and refrain from intensive farming to help prevent H5N1 bird flu, it said.
Data from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency showed that from January to this month, bird flu cases were identified at 19 poultry farms, including 16 terrestrial bird farms and three goose farms, nationwide.
Local animal health inspection authorities would continue to conduct disinfection around livestock farms and public places to help livestock farms that have been affected by floods and typhoons to restore production, the agency said.
Aside from preparing for typhoons and heavy rainfall, poultry farm operators should implement biosafety management measures and monitor health conditions on a daily basis, it said.
Any abnormal situation should be reported to local authorities as required by relevant regulations; otherwise the farm operator could be fined up to NT$1 million (US$32,782) without reimbursements granted to cover the expenses of culling, it said.
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