Brazil, the world's largest exporter of chicken meat, is investigating two cases of bird flu on commercial farms, one in Tocantins and the other in Santa Catarina, in addition to four suspected cases in subsistence chickens, according to a monitoring system from the Ministry of Agriculture.
The focus on these investigations increased after the first record of highly pathogenic avian influenza on a commercial farm in Brazil last week, in Montenegro, Rio Grande do Sul, which resulted in trade embargoes by important importers of the Brazilian product.
In addition to this case, a zoo in the city of Sapucaia do Sul, located about 50 km from Montenegro, confirmed cases of bird flu in wild aquatic birds last week — generally, the country becomes susceptible to trade embargoes only when the outbreak occurs on a commercial farm.
Government strengthens monitoring and bets on rapid response to resume exports
For the Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Fávaro, it is “normal” and important that these notifications and investigations take place, so that Brazil can recover its status as being free of avian flu as quickly as possible.
“People are also more alert. The farmers themselves, whether on commercial or subsistence farms, in their backyards, when they see a sick animal, they raise the alarm. Then they register it in the system. And it’s good that it’s that way,” Fávaro told reporters on Monday.
Fávaro also said that Brazil would be considered free of bird flu if it did not register new cases on commercial farms during a period of 28 days after the initial outbreak. This would not mean that the country would immediately resume exports. However, it would allow Brazil to negotiate with buyers to relax restrictions imposed by health protocols.
Given Brazil’s importance to the global market, Brazilian exports account for more than 35% of the total. Authorities expect China and other major consumers to soon begin to ease import bans on Brazilian meat. This depends on the country not registering new outbreaks of the disease.
In his interview on Monday, the minister mentioned the investigation in Tocantins and another into subsistence chickens in Sergipe.
“The animal is sick, it is reported in the system, the inspection is carried out quickly, and the technicians go there. If there is no suspected correlation with the disease, with similarities to bird flu, it is ruled out immediately,” he noted.
The ministry is investigating commercial farms in the cities of Aguiarnópolis (TO) and Ipumirim (SC). Investigations into subsistence chickens are taking place in Triunfo (RS), Nova Brasilândia (MT), Graccho Cardoso (SE), and Salitre (CE).
Source: Roberto Samora, Isabel Teles and Ana Mano | Notícias Agrícolas
