Brasilia, May 16 (BNA): The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, the world’s largest exporter of chicken, confirmed for the first time cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) but only in wild birds.
The Brazilian government stated that two cases were detected in wild birds and should not lead to a ban on imports of Brazilian poultry products in accordance with the guidelines of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), according to the Brazilian government.
The avian influenza virus can kill entire flocks of birds and cause losses to the agricultural sector. Brazilian chicken exports rose 27% last year to $9.76 billion as other countries were affected by the global outbreak of the virus, yet the South American country has not recorded any cases so far.
The Brazilian government has confirmed the detection of the H5N1 influenza virus subtype in two seabirds, of the species Thalasseus acuflavidus, off the coast of the state of Espírito Santo in southeastern Brazil.
The main poultry-producing states in Brazil are located in the far south and midwest. However, Espiritu Santo is the third largest egg-producing state in Brazil, according to meat lobby ABPA. Do not export eggs, but sell them in the local market.
A government source said epidemiological surveillance services will be intensified to detect possible cases in wild and commercial animals in the area close to where the cases were confirmed.
The Ministry of Agriculture said that because the cases were detected in wild animals, Brazil’s status as a “highly pathogenic avian influenza-free country” was not affected.
MI