Brazilian meat-packaging companies remain free of avian influenza 

By Artur Piva

Even with the first two cases of bird flu confirmed on Monday 15, the industry in Brazil remains free of the disease.

The contaminations occurred in “migratory seabirds,” as reported by the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (Abpa).

“It is important to reiterate that the situation was registered in two migratory seabirds, and did not occur within the Brazilian industrial system,” it reported.

According to Abpa, the industry follows the strictest biosecurity protocols.

“Therefore, there is no change in relation to the domestic supply of products,” the institution reported.

According to the association, chicken meat and eggs remain entirely safe for consumption.

“Also, no changes are expected in the flow of international trade of Brazilian products, taking as principle the recommendations of the World Organization for Animal Health,” said the organization.

BIRD FLU AND INDUSTRY IN BRAZIL

The two cases of bird flu diagnosed in the country occurred in migratory birds found on the coast of Espírito Santo, a state that accounts for less than 1% of the chicken industry slaughtered in Brazil.

In the case of eggs, state breeders are in a better position.

Contaminations occurred in migratory wild birds found in Espírito Santo

In 2022, Espírito Santo accounted for 8.5% of the entire national egg production.

The mark guaranteed the state the fourth producer place in the national ranking.

The country is the largest exporter of chicken meat on the planet.

An eventual case of avian flu within the industrial chain of protein from this animal in Brazil would result in a global impact.

However, there are some strategies tested in other countries that can maintain the flow of part of Brazilian shipments, in the possibility of confirming a case within the industrial sector.

One of them is compartmentalization.

This occurs when a company or institution does such a good job that the production is totally guaranteed against avian flu.

In this way, the company gets the permission to continue with sales to foreign markets.

Even so, the discovery of the disease within the national industrial chain would cause a lot of damage.

The prophylaxis for the cases of contamination involves the slaughtering of the sick bird and of all the others that had contact with it.

Consequently, a single animal can lead to the preventive extermination of an entire farm.

With information from Revista Oeste

News Brazil, English news Brazil, Brazilian poultry, avian influenza