Epidemiological characteristics and financial costs of the 1997 foot-and-mouth disease epidemic in Taiwan

Between March and July 1997. a devastating outbreak of foot-and-mouth disea se (FMD). serotype O, occurred in pigs in Taiwan. A total of 6147 pig farms with more than 4 million pigs were infected, and 37.7 per cent of the pigs in Taiwan either died (0.18 million pigs) or were killed (3.85 million pig s). The epidemic reached its peak during the fifth week after it was first recognised. During the eighth and ninth weeks, a two-dose blanket vaccinati on programme was instituted which led to a large reduction in new outbreaks . Except for two cities, the whole of Taiwan was declared an FMD-infected z one. During the four months in which new farm outbreaks occurred. 21.7 per cent of the pigs on infected farms showed clinical signs, and there was an overall mortality of 3.95 per cent. During the early stages of the epidemic , the incubation period was as short as 24 hours and the case fatality rate s for suckling piglets reached inn per cent The financial cost of the epide mic was estimated at us$ 378.6 million, including indemnities, vaccines, ca rcase disposal plus environmental protection, miscellaneous expenses, and l oss of market value. Owing to the ban on exports of pork to Japan, it is es timated that the total economic cost to Taiwan's pig industry will be about us$ 1.6 billion.