Taiwan Takes Precautions Against Avian Flu Amid Global Pandemic
Taiwan has remained a rare bright spot, free from bird flu infection, but the government is not taking any chances. Premier Frank Hsieh recently announced a NT$1 billion (US$29.67 million) subsidy to encourage local poultry farms to set up protective nets around their facilities, citing the potential threat of migratory birds carrying the disease. Hsieh emphasized the importance of stringent measures, pointing out that a single infected bird would necessitate the slaughter of the entire flock, incurring significant losses for farmers and the country.
Key Takeaways:
- The Taiwanese government has allocated NT$1 billion (US$29.67 million) to subsidize local poultry farms for protective nets to prevent avian flu incursion.
- Premier Frank Hsieh stressed the need for stringent measures to block the spread of the disease, citing Taiwan's unique position as one of the few countries untouched by bird flu.
- Poultry farmers are urged to improve sanitation, and failure to do so could result in significant losses for farmers and the country.
- The government aims to boost the local poultry sector, which has seen chicken prices drop nearly 30 percent amid the bird flu scare.
- The premier assured the public that the risk of contracting avian flu through chicken consumption is minimal, with many countries, including Japan, importing chicken from Taiwan to avoid affected areas.
- Hsieh pointed out that some foreign media outlets, which previously wrongly identified Taiwan as an epicenter of the bird flu epidemic, have since corrected their errors.
Statistics:
- NT$1 billion (US$29.67 million) allocated for subsidies
- 30% drop in chicken prices due to bird flu scare
- Taiwan is one of the few countries unaffected by bird flu
- NT$29.67 million: approximate value of the allocated subsidy
- 30%: Amount by which chicken prices have dropped amid the bird flu scare
Sources:
- CNA, "Taiwan to provide NT$1 billion to prevent bird flu incursion" (no date provided)