Avian flu: Brazil confirms two outbreaks, investigates 3 cases
Brazil has already confirmed two cases of avian influenza: one on a commercial farm in the municipality of Montenegro and the other at the Sapucaia do Sul Zoo, both in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Among the six cases under investigation, three have tested negative for the virus. Of the remaining cases, two involve commercial farms in the states of Tocantins and Santa Catarina, and one is a domestic case in Ceará state.
The data are drawn from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock’s monitoring for respiratory and neurological syndromes in poultry and were updated during a press conference held by Minister Carlos Fávaro on Monday evening (May 19).
The minister stated that maintaining strict surveillance of cases is key to restoring normalcy.
“All inspectors and state systems are on alert for any suspicious cases, and so is the population,” said Fávaro.
According to the minister, both subsistence poultry farmers and commercial farms must notify the ministry at the first sign of illness in any animal, as the ministry is responsible for updating the monitoring system.
“We respond promptly and investigate thoroughly. By transparently and efficiently blocking and probing these cases, we also build credibility. This is the strongest evidence that the system is working,” he added.
The minister emphasized that the Brazilian Agricultural Defense System is regarded as one of the best in the world. “This is how we will overcome this difficult period and return to normalcy as quickly as possible,” he concluded.
