At today's Cabinet meeting, Premier Mao Chi-kuo heard a report from the Council of Agriculture (COA) on the recent foot-and-mouth disease cases found on a cattle farm in outlying Kinmen County.
The first case was discovered last month during routine examinations by the farm when a cow tested positive for type A foot-and-mouth disease, Mao said. The COA immediately activated control measures and so far the disease does not appear to have spread. Nevertheless, full preventive measures remain in place in Kinmen, and the COA will continue monitoring the situation there and take necessary precautions.
Premier Mao asked the COA to work quickly with Kinmen authorities on the culling operation while being careful to address problems that may arise during the incineration of the carcasses. As for the ban on imports of cloven-hoofed animal products from Kinmen to Taiwan proper, he asked the COA to assess the risks and act accordingly.