February 6, 2004

Eight New Taiwanese Farms Down With Bird Flu

Taiwan on Friday reported that eight new farms were struck by bird flu, albeit with the less virulent H5N2 bird flu virus. It had been a week since the last bird flu case were reported.

The authorities have ordered the cull of some 230,000 chickens at the farms along the island's west coast to be completed within three days, said Mr Yeh Ying, deputy director of Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine.

Some 98,000 ducks and chickens have been slaughtered on the island following earlier outbreaks.