June 8, 2011

More FMD outbreaks in west Taiwan

Taiwan has declared two additional outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in Tianwei and Yongjing Township, Chang-Hua County, located at the country's west side.

This information was sent to the international Organisation for Animal Health on June 2, by Taiwan's Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine Council of Agriculture.

During routine serological surveillance in the middle of May, 10 pigs on these two farms were tested positive for FMD, despite all pigs being clinically healthy. In total, the pig population is 8,520.

The monitoring and epidemiological investigation of the index farms and those surrounding farms that keep cloven-hoofed animals (a total of 79 pig farms, three cattle farms, two deer farms and eight goat farms within three-kilometre radius of the index farms) have been done and no clinical or epidemiological evidence of infection was found.

Measures applied included quarantining, movement control inside of the country, screening and vaccination in response to the outbreak.

A similar case was reported early May, in the north of Taiwan. The issue was also resolved very quickly there.