Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak confirmed and resolved in Taiwan

A quick outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease has recently been reported and resolved in Taiwan, the Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reports.

The outbreak was confirmed on May 6, on a pig farm in Hsin-Chu, near Xinpu Township in the north of Taiwan. In a herd of 123 swine, 14 animals were found to be infected.

Routine surveillance
The infection was discovered during a routine active Foot-and-Mouth Disease serological surveillance on a pig farm. The investigation, however, showed that all pigs on the farm were clinically healthy. Fifteen serum and throat swab samples for serological tests and virus isolation were collected and sent to the National Laboratory (Animal Health Research Institute).

The presence of O serotype was demonstrated by using FMD virus ELISA on May 10.

Quarantine was applied and all animals were subsequently vaccinated.

The monitoring and epidemiological investigation of the index farm and its surrounding cloven-hoofed animal farms (a total of 32 pig farms, one goat/cattle farm and two goat farms within 3-km radius of the index farm) have been done and no clinical or epidemiological evidence of infection was found.

The event was considered resolved on May 16 and reported to the OIE by the country’s Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quaranatine Council of Agriculture.

The last time FMD was reported in Taiwan was in August 2009.

Related website:
• Organization for Animal Health