Acting Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih (fourth right) and officials celebrate successfully eradicating goat pox in Taiwan during the news conference Dec. 21 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of Ministry of Agriculture)
 

Taiwan’s work to free itself of sheep and goat pox has been recognized by the World Organization for Animal Health Dec. 19, underscoring the government’s commitment to protecting domestic livestock.

The Ministry of Agriculture said that sheep and goat pox is a highly contagious viral disease. The mortality rate for infected lambs is as high as 80 percent, the ministry said, adding that this can be a great detriment to farmers.

Severe epidemics of goat pox occurred in Taiwan in 2008 and 2010, the MOA said, adding that over the course of the mitigation plan carried out during the 2010 epidemic, 23,740 animals were culled. The ministry stressed how difficult this was for local industry and gratefully acknowledged farmers for their cooperation despite the hardship.

The implementation of a vaccine starting from Jun. 22, 2010 worked effectively to curb the disease, the MOA said, noting that the last case was reported Feb. 5, 2012. According to the ministry, its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency took the initiative to submit its findings on the status of Taiwan’s sheep and goat industry with respect to the sheep and goat pox pathogens to the WOAH Sep. 15 this year.

The report said that the country has maintained vaccine countermeasures and demonstrated good emergency response plans, in addition to showing no sign of sheep and goat pox after close monitoring. The WOAH’s acceptance of the report announcing Taiwan’s clearing of the pathogen marked an important milestone in the country’s history of animal epidemic prevention, the MOA added.

The MOA vowed to continue boosting goat husbandry by subsidizing production equipment, assisting in the setup of cold chain logistics and milk storage tanks, and emphasizing the promotion and marketing of domestic goat products. (POC-E)