São Paulo — Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and Ministry of Foreign Affairs are in contact with markets that buy Brazilian poultry meat and related products to update them on developments following the detection of Newcastle disease at a poultry farm in Nova Itaberaba, in the western part of Santa Catarina state.
The case was detected during routine active sanitary surveillance conducted from September 21 to October 14 at a turkey farm. The birds did not develop the disease. According to Agriculture and Livestock Minister André de Paula, there is no risk to human health from consuming poultry products subject to official sanitary inspection.
The farm where the outbreak was detected has been placed under quarantine, with the movement of birds suspended. The birds will be culled, followed by the implementation of protocols established by the World Organization for Animal Health. As part of containment efforts, a restricted zone has been established for epidemiological monitoring, covering 133 farms in the municipalities of Coronel Freitas, Nova Erechim and Águas Frias.
In a statement released on Tuesday (20), the meat lobby group ABPA said Brazil’s experience and advance preparation had enabled a swift, coordinated response, with sanitary measures promptly implemented and information provided to trade partners and authorities. The ministry also said the birds were kept on the farm and were not processed for consumption.
According to the ministry, as of early Tuesday afternoon, Mexico was the only country to suspend imports of poultry and poultry products from Brazil. China and Chile suspended purchases only from Santa Catarina.
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Translated by Guilherme Miranda
