Taiwan notifies two new outbreaks of FMD

Taiwan veterinary authorities have notified the OIE about the emergence of two new outbreaks of FMD. The outbreaks are located in Yuanshan Township (I-Lan). A total of 1850 pigs were involved, of which, there were 389 cases.

Two pig farms with suspected FMD cases were noted in I-Lan county by the local disease control center. Movement restrictions were conducted on these 2 pig farms, serum and swab samples were collected and sent to the national laboratory (Animal Health Research Institute). The laboratory results confirmed positive NSP antibody reaction in serum samples from 2 index farms. The pigs with lesions and others in the same pen in the farm of outbreak 2 were destroyed (total 381 heads of pigs) according to the positive reaction of viral RNA product detected by RT-PCR. Virus isolation are underway. FMD vaccination, the cleaning and disinfection of the index farms were completed. The monitoring and epidemiological investigation of those surrounding farms that keep cloven-hoofed animals within 3-km radius of the index farms had been completed. No clinical or epidemiological evidence of infection were found.