Taichung: Mayor Lu Shiow-yen confirmed Wednesday an avian influenza outbreak at an egg farm in Fengyuan District after reports of mass chicken deaths. Lu stated that tests conducted at the farm returned positive results for avian influenza, prompting the city government to set up a command post to coordinate response measures.

According to Focus Taiwan, these measures include disinfecting the site, restricting personnel and vehicle movement, recalling and destroying eggs already shipped out, and culling all chickens at the affected farm. Lu added that with winter being a peak season for avian flu, the city is inspecting all 171 chicken farms in Taichung.

The city government received a report Tuesday about a farm housing more than 7,000 chickens experiencing unusually high mortality. A movement control notice was issued the same day. By around noon on Wednesday, disinfection had been completed at the farm and at all poultry sites within a 3-kilometer radius. Follow-up measures include tracing and destroying eggs already sold.

Taichung Agriculture Bureau Director Li I-an revealed that the farm operator admitted to burying 1,700 dead chickens on-site and could face a fine of NT$50,000 (US$1,600) to NT$1 million (US$32,000) under the Act on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases.

Tseng Tzu-chan, director of the Taichung Health Bureau, mentioned that a recall order had been issued for eggs sold online. Additionally, five workers and culling personnel would undergo blood tests and five days of health monitoring. The public is urged to fully cook eggs before consumption.