Low pathogenic avian influenza has been detected on a duck farm in Taiwan, according to a report from the World Organization for Animal Health.
Following the H5N2 outbreak identified on 21 March 2011 in Taiwan (Chinese Taipei), an epidemiological and clinical investigation was conducted on the surrounding poultry farms within a 3-km-radius of the index farm.
As a result of this further investigation, the notifiable avian influenza (NAI) viral infection was detected on a duck breeder farm and identified as H7N3 strain on 7 April 2011. 920 birds were reported as susceptible to the infection. Movement restriction was implemented on the farm immediately after the virus was detected.
Clinical investigation on that farm was carried out and showed that the breeders were healthy and without abnormal mortality and dropping of egg production.
The positive results of serological and virological tests confirmed this new outbreak and the pathogenicity assays of this virus isolate are on-going.