Ministries articulate cooperation to combat avian flu

The ministries of Health, Environment and Climate Change, and Agriculture and Livestock articulate the organization of emergency operation centers to face the avian flu in Brazil. The disease was registered for the first time in Brazil this month, after the confirmation of eight cases in wild birds – seven in Espírito Santo and one in Rio de Janeiro. “The Ministers of Health, Nísia Trindade, and of the Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, and the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Carlos Fávaro, met this Friday (26) to establish protocols and define action strategies in the zoosanitary emergency of avian influenza in Brazil”, highlighted a statement released by the Ministry of Health. It adds that the cooperation seeks to avoid transmissibility between animals and humans, and to carry out actions to reduce environmental impacts due to the contamination of birds. “The technical areas of the three ministries work on defining protocols. There is no record of cases of the disease in humans in the country so far,” the statement said. The Ministry of Health highlighted that the transmission of avian flu happens through contact with sick or dead birds. The guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock is that the population does not collect birds that they find sick or dead and call the nearest veterinary service to prevent the disease from spreading. Emergency Last Tuesday (23), the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock declared a state of zoosanitary emergency throughout the national territory due to the cases of avian flu detected. The ordinance, signed by Minister Carlos Fávaro, was published in an extra edition of the Official Gazette on Monday night (22) and is valid for 180 days. The ordinance also extends – for an indefinite period – the suspension of holding exhibitions, tournaments, fairs and other events with agglomeration of birds and the rearing of birds outdoors, with access to paddocks without screens in the upper part, in establishments registered with the ministry . “The measure applies to any species of production, ornamental, passerine, wild or exotic birds in captivity and other birds bred for other purposes”, he detailed. According to the government, there are no changes in the Brazilian status of being free of highly pathogenic avian influenza before the World Organization for Animal Health, as there is no record in commercial production.

Agência Brasil