Premier Mao Chi-kuo has called for cooperation between the central government and local authorities around Taiwan in the fight against the current bird flu epidemic.
Speaking on Thursday, Mao said that the Cabinet has established a plan for dealing with the epidemic. However, he said that it will take the cooperation of local governments around the country to implement policies designed to fight against bird flu. These include measures that will prevent farmers from dumping the carcasses of diseased animals, a practice that could lead to the epidemic’s spread.
Mao said that there are no cases of the particular strains involved in this epidemic affecting humans. However, he also said that the government must monitor the health of poultry farmers, workers on poultry farms, and people living nearby poultry farms. He said that the government must also release the results of those tested for avian flu in a timely manner in order to reassure the public.