The country's veterinary authorities sent an immediate notification to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) yesterday, 5 November. Prevalence of the H1N1 virus was confirmed on 2 November in the town of Guanshan.

The source of the outbreak has not yet been identified. According to the OIE, an A/H1N1 influenza virus surveillance programme began since January 2009 in Taiwan. Clinical signs such as coughing and diarrhoea were observed in a pig farm located in T’ai-Tung County on 19 October.

Disinfection and cleaning of the index farm was conducted and completed. Movement control has been also implemented.

The country's Animal Health Research Institute exmined swine samples. The tests conducted were gene sequencing, real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT/PCR) and virus islolation. All tests confirmed the presence of the virus.

The OIE, in conjunction with the country's specialists, has applied several measures to contain the spread of the disease.