Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) today halted the export of chicken meat, eggs, and other poultry products.
This drastic move came after Newcastle disease was confirmed at a farm in Anta Gorda, Rio Grande do Sul.
The disease, highly contagious among birds, poses significant risks to poultry industries worldwide.
Mapa’s decision to self-embargo is a proactive measure against a virus that not only threatens Brazil’s substantial poultry exports but also the global poultry market.
In 2022, Brazil exported $7.6 billion worth of chicken, making it one of the largest poultry exporters globally.
The disease’s presence could disrupt international food supplies and inflate global poultry prices.
Mapa declared a zoosanitary emergency in Rio Grande do Sul, effective for 90 days.
This strategy includes rigorous biosafety measures in poultry establishments to prevent the virus from spreading.
These measures are crucial for protecting Brazil’s national poultry stock and maintaining trade compliance with international health standards.
Vaccination has been a key tool in managing Newcastle disease. Brazil employs both inactivated and vectored vaccines.
Long-lived birds like layers and breeders prefer inactivated vaccines.
Vectored vaccines, introduced in hatcheries, offer dual protection against the vector virus and the target Newcastle disease virus.
They allow for early and precise immunization, critical in containing outbreaks.
The outbreak highlights the importance of vigilant disease management and the impact of infectious diseases on international trade and food security.
Brazil’s swift and strategic response serves as a model for handling agricultural health crises, ensuring minimal disruption to global food distribution networks.
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