Local leaders want more support for avian flu prevention and poultry farmers

Описание: Local leaders from Yunlin County and Chiayi City and County gathered near a popular stretch of restaurants specializing in duck meat. While promoting the safety of poultry for sale, they called on the government to strengthen avian influenza prevention measures. As a major producer of goose meat, Chiayi has suffered mounting losses over the avian flu epidemic. County Commissioner Chang Hwa-kuan took on the role of a cook and carved this goose meat, even trying a sample herself. Local leaders expressed their displeasure with the Centers for Disease Control, which they believe has put too much of the responsibility for controlling the disease onto local governments.Chang Hwa-kuan Chiayi County Commissioner(Avian flu) is a national security threat. Within one year, the whole nation may not have goose meat to eat.Restaurants selling goose meat on this Minhsiung street say business has dropped 80 percent since the outbreak began. While Yunlin County Commissioner Lee Chin-yung urged the public to continue buying goose, duck and chicken along with related products, he warned the central government about the severe problems his county faces.Lee Chin-yungYunlin County CommissionerOf around 400 farms in (Yunlin), 159 have reported infection and close to 90,000 birds have died.As for Chiayi County, close to half of its 240,000 geese have died. Local leaders today reiterated their demand for the central government to raise the epidemic prevention level and to fully compensate farmers for losses. Otherwise, it says farmers could suffer through a very difficult year.