Government opens BRL 200 mi credit to fight bird flu
The Brazilian government is opening BRL 200 million in extraordinary credit for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, aimed at efforts against highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1).
In a statement released Tuesday (Jun. 6), the Ministry of Agriculture reported that, considering the animal health emergency in force in the country and the confirmation of cases of the disease in wild birds in at least four states across the country, control and containment actions will be intensified. The credit will be directed at the rapid identification, testing, and sanitary care of suspected cases.
“Brazil remains free of avian influenza in commercial farming and maintains its avian influenza–free status with the World Organization for Animal Health, exporting its products for consumption safely,” the statement ends saying.
New outbreaks
On Monday (5), the ministry confirmed the first outbreak of H5N1 in São Paulo state. The wild bird of the species Thalasseus maximus—the royal tern—was found in the city of Ubatuba, on the northern coast.
Another outbreak was also detected in Rio de Janeiro and neighboring Niterói, in the same species. In all, 24 outbreaks in wild birds have been confirmed in the states of Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, and São Paulo.
