TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Livestock Disease Control Center of Chiayi County carried out a culling operation on Monday (Oct. 9), resulting in the loss of over 35,000 quails due to an outbreak of the H5N1 virus.
The infection was confirmed at a quail farm in Xikou Township of Chiayi County, which first noted abnormal quail deaths, prompting an immediate alert.
This is the first avian flu outbreak in Chiayi County since the start of fall this year.
On Oct. 3, the farm reported diarrhea and abnormal deaths among its quails. Veterinarians suspected avian influenza and alerted the authorities. Later, on Oct. 8, lab results confirmed the H5N1 infection.
The Livestock Disease Control Center highlighted that the same farm experienced two previous avian flu outbreaks and urged farm operators to enhance management practices and implement stringent biosecurity measures to prevent future outbreaks.