H5N2 OUTBREAK TESTS TAIWAN'S PREPAREDNESS TO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 000067

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES/S/IHB, HHS FOR OGHA STEIGER, BHAT AND ABDOO;
FAS/OSTA HAMILTON, BEAN; FAS/OCRA RADLER, BEILLARD,
FAS/OFSO BREHM; APHIS/IS CAPLEN; APHIS/VS JAMES-PRESTON,
ISAAC;
USTR FOR STRATFORD AND ALTBACH
USDOC FOR 3132/USFCS/OIO/EAP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TSPL TBIO ECON SOCI KSCA ETRD PGOV TW
SUBJECT: H5N2 OUTBREAK TESTS TAIWAN'S PREPAREDNESS TO
COMBAT BIRD FLU


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. A low-pathogenic H5N2 virus outbreak,
discovered on a Kaohsiung chicken farm in October 2008, but
not reported for two months, underscores the need for
transparency at the Council of Agriculture (COA) regarding
virus outbreaks among poultry and animals. The authorities'
slow response has generated concern from the public and the
health community, although test results show that the virus
was of low pathogenicity. On December 20, following tests
confirming the H5N2 virus as a low-pathogenic type, Taiwan
then notified the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)
of the findings. However, pending completed tests on the 76
chicken farms to prove it is virus-free, Taiwan remains on
the H5N2 Avian Influenza list of OIE, and Japan has banned
Taiwan poultry imports. The incident has hurt public trust
in the ability of the authorities to keep it informed of
virus outbreaks, and has dealt the poultry industry a heavy
blow. END SUMMARY

PUBLIC NOT NOTIFIED OF OUTBREAK
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2. (SBU) On January 14, ESTHoff met with COA's Bureau of
Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine office
(BAPHIQ) to get an update on the H5N2 bird flu outbreak.
According to COA, on October 21, three dead chickens were
found at the Luchu poultry farm in Kaohsiung. The farm's
owners notified the Kaohsiung County Animal Disease Control
Center to conduct sampling and testing. On October 23, the
county sent experts to inspect 76 poultry farms within a
three kilometer radius, and a movement ban was imposed on
chickens from one poultry farm to another. From October 21
to November 7, 230 chickens out of a population of 18,000
died from the H5N2 virus; a death rate not unusual for a
population of that size. COA officials told us that the dead
chickens were first tested on November 12, and results
indicated a high pathogenic strain of H5N2. However, the low
rate of mortality made them skeptical of this initial test,
and further testing was scheduled. (Note: In 2004, a
low-pathogenic H5N2 outbreak affected many chicken farms in
central Taiwan, and the mortality rate was much higher). No
press statements were issued at this stage, and the public
was unaware of the outbreak. COA officials told us they did
not release any information on the outbreak because test
results were not yet available, and that it takes from 19-40
days to complete standard testing procedures.

JAPAN BANS TAIWAN POULTRY IMPORTS
--------------


3. (SBU) On November 14, all 18,000 birds at the Luchu
poultry farm, where the initial outbreak took place, were
destroyed. On December 17, the media broke the story,
resulting in a public outcry and to Japan's banning Taiwan
poultry imports the same day. Since Taiwan exports about
5,000 tons of ducks to Japan (90 percent of its duck meat
exports),the economic loss from the ban is estimated at more
than NT 1 billion (USD 3 million). On December 20, a second
test on live-but-sickly chickens at the Luchu farm finally
confirmed that the H5N2 was of low pathogenicity. On that
day, COA officially notified OIE of the results. OIE requires
a member to be placed in "AI free status" only after a 90-day
zero-AI infection period. To comply with this requirement,
COA officials said COA would have to take 40 samples from
each of the 76 poultry farms from December to February and
show negative results. If and when that occurs, COA will then
request that Taiwan be taken off the list of H5N2-affected
jurisdictions. Only then will Japan allow Taiwan poultry to
be imported again.


COMMENT:
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4. (SBU) In withholding information about the H5N2 virus for
nearly two months, the COA acted at variance with the basic
tenets of the OIE, which requires transparency in public
notification of such an event. While COA officials claim
they were cautious about releasing data on the H5N2 outbreak
because there was no conclusive evidence of the pathogenicity
of the virus, the public only found out when the news media

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broke the story. COA wanted to protect Taiwan's poultry
industry and had concerns about paying an indemnity to
producers. This strategy lowered public trust in COA's
ability to protect the public interest, and proved unable to
avert serious economic consequences for the Taiwan poultry
industry. END COMMENT
SYOUNG