Brazil: 2025 Bird flu in wild birds

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Source: https://chapeco.fm/mortes-de-gansos-...gripe-aviaria/

DEATHS OF GEESE AND DUCKS IN ZOO IN RS WERE DUE TO BIRD FLU
journalism4
May 19, 2025


The deaths of 38 swans and ducks at the Sapucaia do Sul Zoo in Rio Grande do Sul were caused by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1), as confirmed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. The zoo, the largest in the state, has remained closed to visitors for an indefinite period since the first cases appeared. The city is located near Montenegro, where the virus was also recently detected in a commercial poultry farming system.

Bird flu is a highly contagious viral disease that mainly affects birds, but can also affect humans. Symptoms in birds include breathing difficulties, secretions, sneezing, loss of coordination, stiff neck, diarrhea, and high mortality. The disease is not transmitted by the consumption of meat or eggs. The Secretariat of the Environment and Infrastructure recommends immediate reporting of any suspected infection in birds.

Source: Agência Brasil

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Please see:

Brazil confirms first outbreak of avian influenza on commercial farm - May 16, 2025

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05/28/2025 at 6:36 PM - Updated on 05/28/2025 at 6:36 PM

GDF orders temporary closure of Brasília Zoo as a security measure

By Agência Brasília | Editing: Carolina Caraballo

The Federal District Government informs that, as a security and precautionary measure, the Brasília Zoo will be temporarily closed to the public starting this Wednesday (28). The decision was made after the identification of a dead pigeon and a white-faced tern on the zoo premises. Samples of the animals were collected by the Secretariat of Agriculture, Supply and Rural Development (Seagri-DF) and will be sent to the Federal Laboratory of Agricultural Defense of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) for analysis of possible cases of avian flu.
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It is important to clarify that these birds are free-living, that is, they are not part of the zoo's stock, but they roam the grounds due to the natural supply of shelter, water and food. The Brasília Zoo constantly monitors the health of all its animals and maintains strict investigation protocols in cases of death.

We would like to emphasize that there are no other suspected cases registered to date, either among free-living animals or other birds in the Federal District. Seagri-DF is the agency responsible for animal health in the DF and will conduct the entire investigation, following the national protocols developed by Mapa.

The preventive closure follows biosafety protocols and aims to protect the health of animals, employees and visitors. The reopening of the park will be evaluated once laboratory results are completed and there is no risk to public health.

Seagri-DF emphasizes that there is no risk to human health in the consumption of properly inspected chicken meat and eggs. Avian flu is not transmitted through the ingestion of these cooked foods, even when they come from affected areas. The virus is only transmitted through direct contact with infected live birds, and the risk of human infection is considered low.

This is a joint action by the Brasília Zoological Garden Foundation, Seagri-DF and the Federal District Government, reaffirming the commitment to animal health, public safety and transparency in public management.

https://segov.df.gov.br/w/gdf-determ...a-de-seguranca

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Health Department of the Federal District News

05/29/2025 at 6:58 pm

DF has a low risk of human contamination by bird flu

The Health Department has had a contingency plan to protect the population since 2023. There are no suspected cases among humans.

Humberto Leite, from the DF Health Agency | Editing: Willian Cavalcanti

The Health Department of the Federal District (SES-DF) has had a contingency plan for cases of bird flu in humans since 2023. Although there is no confirmation of cases of the disease among animals in the DF, after the suspicion of bird infections in some locations, the department began the first planned phase, which consists of reinforcing surveillance.

“The current risk of transmission to humans is considered low. There are currently no suspected cases in humans. Even so, the Health Department is acting preventively, as established in the contingency plan,” says the Undersecretary of Health Surveillance at SES-DF, Fabiano dos Anjos Martins.

According to the contingency plan for cases of avian flu in humans, the Federal District remains in the initial scenario, with monitoring of events. To this end, surveillance teams work in all hospitals in the public network, as well as in Emergency Care Units and Basic Health Units.
Transmission of the H5N1 virus from birds to humans is classified as rare, occurring only sporadically, requiring direct contact with birds or their bodily fluids.

The Strategic Information Center for Health Surveillance in the Federal District (Cievs-DF) , linked to the SES-DF and a member of the National Alert and Response Network for Public Health
Emergencies, monitors suspected cases in Brazil and abroad. In addition, the unit is on call 24 hours a day to receive notifications from health units in the Federal District, both public and private. It is the same monitoring network activated for diseases such as COVID-19, yellow fever and Mpox.

Cievs-DF manager Priscilleyne Ouverney highlights the importance of having had contingency planning in place in advance. “The basis for an efficient response to a potential public health emergency is adequate preparation. The plan is a guiding instrument for the actions, which are being carried out as planned,” she explains.

https://www.saude.df.gov.br/web/gues...e-avi%C3%A1ria

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Brazil confirms bird flu case at zoo

04 Jun 2025


BRASILIA: The Brazilian government confirmed a case of bird flu at a zoo in its capital after two birds were found dead there last week.

Brazil, the world's top exporter of chicken meat, has suspended its shipments to more than 20 countries due to an avian flu outbreak that began in mid-May.

Brasilia's zoo closed on May 28 after finding a dead pigeon and dead duck that it suspected were cases of the disease.

Samples from the birds revealed "the detection of a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza", the Federal District's Agriculture Secretariat said on social media Tuesday (Jun 3).

"With the confirmation of the outbreak ... the closure of the zoo will remain in effect until Jun 12, if no new cases are detected on-site."

This brings the total number of recently reported bird flu cases in Brazil to five, according to the ministry of agriculture.

The first case was recorded on May 16 at a farm in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.

continued: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/worl...se-zoo-5165716

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06/04/2025 at 2:21 pm

GDF treats case of bird flu as isolated; population can report suspected cases

At a press conference, the Health Secretary reassures about the low transmissibility of the virus in humans. The head of the Agriculture Department asked people to send photos, videos or information

Brasilia Agency

Authorities from the Federal District Government (GDF) met this Wednesday (4), at the Palácio do Buriti, to detail what has been done preventively and which measures will be intensified after the confirmation of the first case of avian influenza, at the Brasília Zoo. The zoosanitary emergency situation began in the city of Montenegro, in Rio Grande do Sul, and was detected in the DF after two wild birds were found dead on the park's premises.

The case of bird flu in the capital is being treated as isolated, since only the diagnosis of the irerê was confirmed – the virus was not detected in the pigeon. Furthermore, there is no evidence of transmission within the park. The two animals found dead are free-living, that is, they do not belong to the Brasília Zoo's stock.

“I would like to emphasize and reassure the population that there is low transmissibility between humans,” said Health Secretary Juracy Lacerda during a press conference at the Palácio do Buriti. Photo: Tony Oliveira/Agência Brasília

“To date, the birds in the institution’s flock have not shown any symptoms. This is important when we are dealing with a virus that spreads easily and is highly lethal and transmissible. The fact that we have no animals with symptoms is a very positive sign for us,” highlighted the Secretary of Agriculture, Supply and Rural Development, Rafael Bueno. The head of the department recalled that the Federal District has been in a state of zoosanitary emergency since 2023, when the protocol measures established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) were adopted.

The secretary also highlighted that the GDF will keep channels open for the population regarding suspected cases of avian flu. Any handling of dead birds should be avoided, and all suspicions that include respiratory or neurological signs or high and sudden mortality in birds should be immediately notified to Seagri by email falecomadefesa@seagri.df.gov.br or by WhatsApp (61) 99154-1539, by sending images of the suspected bird for prior screening by the technical team.

“We ask the public to send photos and videos when reporting and to never have contact with the animal. This is so that the defense can map the previous behavior of this bird and know if this is a discarded case or if it needs to be investigated further,” reinforced Secretary Rafael Bueno.

Furthermore, the head of the department warned the population about the signs that should be observed. “We recommend that the entire community observe animals with bad habits, such as drooping heads, staggering, diarrhea, coughing or sneezing, or even dead birds - and that the population does not have contact with these animals.”

The consumption of products legally sold in the Federal District remains safe. “As our buyer market is very demanding, the level of biosafety in the federal capital is quite high, and this gives us peace of mind regarding the consumption of meat and eggs from these animals, as long as they are prepared by cooking and frying,” added Secretary Rafael Bueno. The Federal District also continues to export meat to partner countries: Saudi Arabia, Japan and Russia.

The case was identified quickly due to the work carried out to monitor the health of the animals inside the zoo, thus preventing the spread of the disease. Seagri was responsible for collecting the sample and performing the necropsy to be sent to the reference laboratory. According to the protocol, the Brasília Zoo had to be closed - a measure that will be in effect until the 12th.

Monitoring

Seagri was also responsible for inspecting a 3 km radius from the outbreak and found that the situation is under control. The teams are still on site to monitor the situation. “During this period, the Agricultural Defense teams, together with the veterinary team, will monitor all the birds. If there are no cases within this outbreak, the Zoo will be closed on June 13,” Bueno added.

At the same time, eight zoo employees, including technicians, veterinarians and caretakers who were exposed to the animals, are being monitored by the Health Department (SES-DF). “The people who were exposed are being monitored by the Health Surveillance Agency and have not presented any type of symptoms,” revealed the Health Secretary, Juracy Lacerda. “However, I would like to emphasize and reassure the population that there is low transmission between humans. It is also important to emphasize that we are living in the period of respiratory syndromes.”

Commonly known as bird flu, avian influenza is a disease caused by influenza viruses that originate in birds. These viruses belong to the family Orthomyxoviridae and include A(H5N1). They primarily affect birds, but have also been detected in mammals, including cattle. Bird flu rarely affects humans, but people are advised to stay informed and take recommended preventive measures.

“We recommend that the entire community observe animals with bad habits, such as drooping heads, staggering, diarrhea, coughing or sneezing, or even dead birds - and that the population does not have contact with these animals,” said Secretary Rafael Bueno. Photo: Tony Oliveira/Agência Brasília

Routine measures

The measures taken to prevent the arrival of avian influenza in the Federal District date back well before the current outbreak in Rio Grande do Sul. Avian influenza has been a disease that has existed worldwide since 2006. Brazil is considered one of the countries with the greatest biosecurity measures in the world. The first occurrence in the country occurred in 2023, and this year alone, the first case was recorded in commercial poultry farms.

According to Seagri-DF, the defense system is well advanced and follows the global protocols established by the Ministry of Agriculture. “Since 2023, when the governor declared a health emergency, we have increased visits to commercial poultry farms to conduct health surveys. We sample birds, collect material and perform tests to identify possible presence of viruses inside the poultry farms. It is important to emphasize that poultry farms in the Federal District have a very high level of biosecurity, precisely because of the market in which we operate,” highlighted the Secretary of Agriculture, Supply and Rural Development. “Most, almost all of the poultry and chicken we produce in the Federal District is destined for export."

Inspections in the Federal District are carried out periodically and are reinforced in cases of emergency, with the adoption of different protocols. In the case of influenza, the technical team outlines two radiuses of action, three and ten kilometers from the outbreak, and in each of these areas, there is a different level of action by the agricultural defense. The closer to the outbreak, the more intense the work of visiting the properties, both to check for clinical signs in the animals and to educate the producers.

Between 2023 and 2024, the government carried out educational actions in rural schools. With the health emergency in the country, the campaign will be reinforced together with the Department of Education (SEEDF).

https://www.saude.df.gov.br/web/gues...otificar-casos

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