The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Carlos Fávaro.| Photo: Guilherme Martimon/Mapa.

The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Carlos Fávaro, declared a state of zoosanitary emergency throughout the national territory for 180 days due to the avian flu. So far, infection with the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) has been detected in eight wild birds in Brazil. The ordinance was published in the extra edition of the Official Gazette (DOU) this Monday (22).

In a note, the folder stated that the measure aims to “prevent the disease from reaching subsistence and commercial poultry production, as well as to preserve fauna and human health”.

“The declaration of a state of zoosanitary emergency makes it possible to mobilize funds from the Union and to articulate with other ministries, governmental organizations – in the three instances: federal, state and municipal – and non-governmental. All this process is to ensure the workforce, logistics, financial resources and technological materials necessary to carry out emergency actions aimed at preventing the spread of the disease”, said Fávaro, in a note.

Of the eight cases of the disease detected, seven occurred in Espírito Santo and one in Rio de Janeiro. The ordinance also extends, indefinitely, the validity of the suspension of exhibitions and other events with agglomeration of birds and the creation of birds outdoors, with access to paddocks without screens in the upper part, in establishments registered with the ministry.