Premier Mao Chi-kuo says that the Council of Agriculture (COA) will closely monitor the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease on the outlying island of Kinmen.
An outbreak of the disease was recently found on one of the island’s cattle farms. As of Wednesday, the agriculture council said that close to 300 heads of cattle in and near the affected farm have already been euthanized. Authorities found no new cases during random inspections on hoofed animals within a one-kilometer radius of the affected farm.
Speaking on behalf of Premier Mao on Thursday, Cabinet spokesman Sun Lih-chyun said that there is no sign that the epidemic is spreading.
"Currently, we do not see the disease spreading. However, preventative measures have not yet been lifted. We are asking the Council of Agriculture to monitor the situation closely, to closely monitor the results of visits and inspections in [Kinmen County], and to take the necessary preventative measures,” said Sun.
Meanwhile, Premier Mao said that bans on the transport of processed meat from Kinmen to Taiwan proper will continue based on the agriculture council’s risk assessment.