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7/6/2006 10:22:00 AM
Newcastle Disease Found In Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil
SAO PAULO (Dow Jones)--The World Organization For Animal Health, or OIE, said in a press statement Thursday that a case of Newcastle disease was found on a private property in Rio Grande do Sul, one of Brazil's most important chicken producing states.
The Agriculture Ministry didn't return phone calls made by Dow Jones Newswires to confirm the disease, but the local Estado newswire said that laboratory tests begun in early May on chickens in the town of Vale Real in Rio Grande do Sul discovered the virus that causes the disease in one bird. Forty-four chickens were slaughtered as a result.
The discovery was made during the state's standard animal health monitoring operations, the newswire reported, citing Agriculture Ministry representative in Rio Grande do Sul, Francisco Signor. The property was under particular watch because one chicken had showed signs of respiratory problems, a symptom of the Newcastle disease.
Unlike avian flu, Newcastle disease is not harmful to humans and does not present a public health risk to consumers of poultry products. However, the virus can be spread by humans to other birds, particularly on contaminated footwear and clothing.
Newcastle is a highly contagious viral disease among fowls and poses a threat to the poultry industry. Brazil is the world's No. 1 chicken exporter.
Signor said he doubted the incident would lead to national export bans of Brazilian chicken, the Estado newswire reported.
Brazil's chicken export volume has already declined because of bird flu fears in Europe and elsewhere, as consumers there are buying less chicken meat than before the bird flu discoveries were made earlier in the year.
Source: Kenneth Rapoza, Dow Jones Newswires
Newcastle Disease Found In Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil
SAO PAULO (Dow Jones)--The World Organization For Animal Health, or OIE, said in a press statement Thursday that a case of Newcastle disease was found on a private property in Rio Grande do Sul, one of Brazil's most important chicken producing states.
The Agriculture Ministry didn't return phone calls made by Dow Jones Newswires to confirm the disease, but the local Estado newswire said that laboratory tests begun in early May on chickens in the town of Vale Real in Rio Grande do Sul discovered the virus that causes the disease in one bird. Forty-four chickens were slaughtered as a result.
The discovery was made during the state's standard animal health monitoring operations, the newswire reported, citing Agriculture Ministry representative in Rio Grande do Sul, Francisco Signor. The property was under particular watch because one chicken had showed signs of respiratory problems, a symptom of the Newcastle disease.
Unlike avian flu, Newcastle disease is not harmful to humans and does not present a public health risk to consumers of poultry products. However, the virus can be spread by humans to other birds, particularly on contaminated footwear and clothing.
Newcastle is a highly contagious viral disease among fowls and poses a threat to the poultry industry. Brazil is the world's No. 1 chicken exporter.
Signor said he doubted the incident would lead to national export bans of Brazilian chicken, the Estado newswire reported.
Brazil's chicken export volume has already declined because of bird flu fears in Europe and elsewhere, as consumers there are buying less chicken meat than before the bird flu discoveries were made earlier in the year.
Source: Kenneth Rapoza, Dow Jones Newswires
