animal health 結果共10筆

An outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza in a farm in Tainan’s Jiali District led to the termination of over 10,000 chickens. The Animal Health Inspection and Protection Office in Tainan City swiftly responded to contain the spread, culminating in incineration, rendering, and thorough disinfection measures. Efforts are ongoing to monitor connected poultry farms and enhance preventive hygiene practices to prevent further transmission.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture is recruiting four dog handlers for its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency. The positions offer a starting salary of NT＄37,769 per month, plus an additional NT＄7,700 allowance for outstations. Handlers must have at least one year of related experience and be available for shifts and business travel. They also need a good understanding of dogs, an outgoing personality, and the ability to work independently. The positions are divided among Taipei Songshan Airport, Taoyuan International Airport, and Kinmen Shuitou Pier, with potential relocation to Kaohsiung Airport or Taichung Airport.

A wandering cow disrupts Christmas Day traffic in Hsinchu City, Taiwan, as it takes a stroll down a public road. Eyewitnesses spotted the bovine in the city’s East District on the night of December 24. With the help of police and the owner, it took about half an hour to guide the cow back home. The cow had broken free from its rope, allowing it to wander freely. Officials from the city’s Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office had tranquilizer darts on hand but decided not to use them after consulting with the owner. After half an hour of coaxing, the cow finally cooperated and was transported home, causing a memorable Christmas for Hsinchu City residents.

An adult masked palm civet tragically fell to its death after mistakenly entering a chimpanzee enclosure at the Taipei Zoo. The incident occurred on December 15 and was witnessed by onlookers. The civet was attacked and killed by a chimpanzee, leaving visitors shocked. Taipei Zoo spokesperson Eric Tsao explained that while precautions are taken to ensure animal safety, it is impossible to completely close off each area due to animal welfare considerations. Tsao emphasized that this event serves as a reminder that local wildlife species can occasionally wander into the zoo. Chimpanzees exhibit a group defense behavior pattern and will attack intruders until they show no signs of life. Upon being alerted about the incident, zoo staff followed the Standard Operating Procedure and managed to lure the chimpanzees inside before addressing the situation. However, the civet had already died. The deceased civet, considered a sensitive species in terms of communicable disease control, will be sent to a professional health institution for tests to determine if it carried any infectious diseases.

A pivotal study reveals that dengue fever can rapidly spread through a transmission method similar to needle-sharing in infectious diseases like HBV, HCB, and HIV. The study, conducted by Taiwan’s National Health Research Institutes in collaboration with the Department of Health and Kaohsiung City Government, analyzed the timing of infections during the 2015 outbreak. They found that in 85% of household cases, symptoms occurred within three days of each other, contradicting the previously believed incubation period for virus transmission. Using animal models, researchers confirmed that when mosquitoes bite an infected animal and then promptly bite another, the virus can transfer via the mosquito’s proboscis, bypassing the once-considered essential eight-day extrinsic incubation period. This finding explains the rapid spread of the 2015 dengue epidemic in Taiwan and raises concerns for the recent spike in cases. The study, published in the esteemed journal eBiomedicine, a Lancet subsidiary, in August 2023, also involved international researchers from the University of California, Nagoya University, Tsinghua University, and National Taiwan University.

A sheep farm in Pingtung County, Taiwan experiences its first outbreak of Brucellosis in 30 years, with three sheep testing positive for the disease. The infected sheep have been culled and the entire facility disinfected. Brucellosis is a zoonotic infectious disease that can spread between people and animals, causing placentitis, infertility, miscarriage, and orchitis. The Pingtung County Animal Disease Control Center routinely monitors dairy cattle and sheep farms, with all dairy cattle farms testing negative in 2023. Further confirmation analysis and biweekly blood tests are mandated for the remaining sheep on the affected farm. Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture claims to have eradicated Brucellosis in dairy cows by 1989, and this is the first positive case identified on a sheep farm since surveillance began in 1986. Livestock farms are urged to avoid introducing animals from unknown sources and to enhance biosecurity measures, using proper personal protective equipment and reporting unexplained symptoms to animal health authorities.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice presidential candidate Hsiao Bi-khim returned to Taiwan from New York with her four beloved cats, arriving at Taoyuan International Airport. Accompanied by security officers, Hsiao handled her immigration procedures while waving to reporters and travelers. She then proceeded to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency to take care of the entry quarantine procedures for her cats. As her feline friends meowed from within their carriers, Hsiao comforted them and fed them treats. She personally confirmed the purchase of canned food and dry kibble for her pets before leaving the airport under the escort of security personnel. Hsiao had returned to Taiwan on Nov. 20 to report for duty and submit her resignation, registered for the elections the following day, and rallied support in Hualien. She then returned to the United States on Nov. 26 to finalize her resignation and pack her belongings before making her journey back to Taiwan with her cats.

A man from Kaohsiung is facing fines for carrying his husky in a capsule backpack, which violates the Animal Protection Act. The incident, shared on Dcard, sparked online discussions and drew the attention of the local animal protection office. The office quickly identified the pet owner and found the husky to be in good health. The owner could be fined between NT＄15,000 to NT＄75,000. The protection office emphasized the need for considerate behavior when taking pets to public places, including providing adequately ventilated carriers with enough room for pets to move freely and ensuring that animals are accompanied by a person over the age of seven.

蜜蜂（honeybees）可說是自然界最勤勞的生物之一，牠們採集花粉花蜜的天性，除了能製造蜂蜜外，更是大自然不可或缺的繁殖方式。《衛報》（The Guardian）報導，受到人類破壞棲息地、特殊細菌衝擊，蜜蜂經常面臨嚴重疾病，造成牠們無法正常進行授粉和採集；為了給蜜蜂更多保護，美國農業部一改過去間接手段，近期批准由大蘭生物健康（Dalan Animal Health）研發、全球首款蜜蜂疫苗，將能直接給予蜂群最完整的保障。

In Taiwan, dedicated dog owners often view their pets as members of the family. However, on New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31) shoppers were aghast to hear loud barks coming from inside a car parked in a retail store lot — clearly, the desperate calls for help were of an animal left locked up and forgotten by its owner.