BEIJING, March 4 (PNA/Sputnik) — Five new hotbeds of avian influenza, also known as bird flu, have been identified at Taiwanese farms, local media reported on Saturday.
The H5N2 and H5N8 virus strains were registered at five affected farms and birds were put to death at two of the farms, the Taiwanese Central News Agency (CNA) said, citing local animal and plant inspection and quarantine authorities.
A total of 69 Taiwanese farms have been affected by bird flu since Jan. 1, according to Taiwan’s Bureau of Animal and Plant Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ). More than 500,000 birds have been put to death.
Last month, Taiwan’s western Yunlin County was particularly affected amid multiple outbreaks of bird flu. Tens of thousands of chickens were culled in the region. (PNA/Sputnik)
