A/H1N1 influenza ,
Chinese Taipei

Information received on 05/11/2009 from Dr Kwo-Ching Huang, Chief Veterinary Officer and Deputy Director General, Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine , Council of agriculture, Executive Yuan , Taipei, Chinese Taipei

Summary

Report type Immediate notification
Start date 19/10/2009
Date of first confirmation of the event 02/11/2009
Report date 05/11/2009
Date submitted to OIE 05/11/2009
Date event resolved 17/11/2009
Reason for notification Emerging disease
Morbidity 4.8 %
Mortality 0 %
Zoonotic impact No
Causal agent A/H1N1 influenza virus
Related reports

New outbreaks
Outbreak 1 Guanshan township, T'AI-TUNG
Date of start of the outbreak 19/10/2009
Outbreak status Resolved (17/11/2009)
Epidemiological unit Farm
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered
Swine 3346 160 0 0 0
Affected Population 5-week-old piglets
Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 1
Outbreak statistics
Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost*
Swine 4.78% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

* Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter

Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
  • Unknown or inconclusive
Epidemiological comments A/H1N1 influenza virus surveillance programme began since January 2009 in the country. Clinical signs such as coughing and diarrhoea were observed in a pig farm located in T’ai-Tung County on 19 October 2009. The owner reported it to the prefecture animal disease control competent authority. Official veterinarian inspected this farm right away. Samples were collected and sent to the Animal Health Research Institute.
Disinfection and cleaning of the index farm has been conducted and completed. Movement control has been also implemented. The positive results of virus isolation, real-time RT-PCR and gene sequencing demonstrated that this outbreak was caused by H1N1 influenza A virus.
The sick pigs in the index farm have recovered. One pig farm within 1km radius of the index farm has been under vigilant monitoring and no clinical or epidemiological evidence of infection has been found. Seven pig farms within 3km radius of the index farm have also been under intensive monitoring.

Control measures
Measures applied
  • Movement control inside the country
  • Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)
  • Vaccination prohibited
  • No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied
  • No other measures

Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type Animal Health Research Institute (National laboratory)
Tests and results
Species Test Test date Result
Swine gene sequencing 04/11/2009 Positive
Swine real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 03/11/2009 Positive
Swine virus isolation 02/11/2009 Positive

Future Reporting
The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.

Map of outbreak locations
Location of current outbreaks

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