Wang Zhengteng: The avian influenza epidemic is sporadic

In response to documentary director Lee Hui-ren's questioning of the claim that some officials concealed the H5N2 epidemic for 70 days, Wang Zhengteng, vice chairman of the Council of Agriculture, said in an interview on a TV program on the evening of the 5th that the timeline presented by Lee Hui-ren was inconsistent with the facts, because this incident must be judged based on scientific evidence and has a certain process time, and it was definitely not a concealment of the epidemic. At the same time, while experts are discussing and researching, epidemic prevention work is still continuing. However, I am sorry for the current anxiety among the public; as to whether there has been any violation of law or dereliction of duty, it will be determined according to the law.

Wang Zhengteng said that the H5N2 virus was first discovered in Taiwan in 2001. The outbreak period is from autumn to spring every year and is sporadic. In the past, they were all low pathogens, but this time they are high pathogens.

Wang Zhengteng said that the time recorded by the agricultural administration unit is inconsistent with the timetable presented by Li Huiren. The authorities are not concealing the epidemic, but need to rely on scientific evidence. Although the epidemic has been confirmed to be "sporadic", that is, chickens are often infected with the H5N2 highly pathogenic pathogen from autumn and winter to spring and summer, the epidemic is currently under control and continuous monitoring.

On December 27 last year, then Council of Agriculture Chairman Chen Wuxiong and former Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine Director Hsu Tien-lai both received the diseased samples sent by Lee Hui-ren. Chen Wuxiong opened the package and sent the samples to the Livestock Hygiene Research Institute for testing; Hsu Tien-lai mistakenly thought it was a Spring Festival gift and returned the originals. Later, based on the GPS coordinates provided by Li Huiren, a chicken farm owned by a man named Chen was found in Changhua, but there was nothing particularly unusual at the scene. Although some chickens died, the others seemed calm.

December 30th / The first sampling and analysis was carried out and handed over to the Livestock Research Institute for inspection. Including gene sequencing of basic amino acids and virus exposure experiment ivpi.

January 6 / H5N2 virus found,

January 7 / Press conference announced that the H5N2 low-level pathogen has been found in China.

January 10 / Notified the OIE World Organization for Animal Health of the H5N2 low pathogen outbreak.

February 1st / The Livestock Hygiene Research Institute convened a meeting of experts and scholars to conduct research and analysis, but there was no unanimous conclusion at the time. The main reason was that the inspection report was inconsistent with the actual situation of the chicken farm, so it was impossible to determine that it was a highly pathogenic H5N2 at the time. After the meeting, the relevant units went back to continue their research, and epidemic prevention measures continued during this period.

March 1st / A second meeting of experts and scholars was held for discussion.

March 3rd / Officially announced as H5N2 highly pathogenic.

Wang Zhengteng said that the H5N2 virus was first discovered in Taiwan in 2001. The outbreak period is from autumn to spring every year and is sporadic. In the past, they were all low-pathogens, but this time they are high-pathogens. High-pathogens mean that they are highly infective to poultry and have a high mortality rate, but they will not be transmitted to humans. International cases have shown that it is possible for people to be infected but not develop the disease, or that people can produce antibodies. There has never been a case of H5N2 being transmitted from person to person in historical documents.