Brazil confirms first cases of avian flu in wild birds

The birds are of the Trinta-réis-de-bando species and were found in the city of Marataízes and in a neighborhood in Vitória, the state capital. These were the first cases of the disease registered in Brazil.

The ministry and sector entities reinforce that poultry is not part of the production system, that is, there was no contamination in the chicken and egg factories or risk of affecting internal supply. Food can be safely consumed.

Despite the cases, the ministry emphasizes that the situation does not change the recognition of Brazil as a country free of avian flu. “It should be noted that the notification of infection by the HPAI virus in wild birds does not affect Brazil’s status as a country free of HPAI and the other WHOA member countries should not impose prohibitions on international trade in Brazilian poultry products,” says a note released by the folder.

After being collected, the birds were analyzed by the team from the Federal Laboratory for Agricultural Defense in São Paulo, which is a reference of the World Organization for Animal Health. The unit confirmed the diagnosis. Then, the Brazilian government notified the international entity.

Minister Carlos Fávaro declared a state of alert with the aim of “increasing the mobilization of the private sector and the entire official veterinary service to increase national preparation, increasing vigilance over the HPAI pandemic”, with intensification of communication and prevention actions , especially among poultry breeders.

Bird flu

It is a highly contagious viral disease that affects wild and domestic birds. Currently, the world is experiencing an influenza pandemic, mostly through contact between migratory birds and subsistence, production or wild birds in a region.

The virus can be transmitted to humans through contact with infected birds, dead or alive. If you find a bird with the symptoms of the disease (walking staggering, neck lying down and high mortality in an area), the advice is to call the veterinary service in your city or make a notification to the e-Sisbravet.

Do not touch or pick up sick birds, as the virus is present in animal feces and respiratory secretions.

Avian flu is not transmitted by eating chicken meat or eggs.

“ABPA (Brazilian Association of Animal Protein) points out that the consumption of poultry meat and eggs is completely safe, according to scientifically supported information by the WHOA, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and other internationally recognized bodies”, points out a note from the association, which represents poultry farmers.