Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock confirms first case of avian influenza in a commercial poultry farm in Brazil

The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) confirmed on Thursday, May 15, the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial poultry breeding facility located in the municipality of Montenegro, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. 

This is the first confirmed case of HPAI in a commercial poultry operation in Brazil. Since 2006, the virus has circulated mainly in Asia, Africa, and Northern Europe. 

MAPA underscores that avian influenza is not transmitted through the consumption of poultry meat or eggs. Consumers in Brazil and abroad can remain confident in the safety of inspected poultry products, and there are no restrictions on their consumption. The risk of human infection is low and is generally associated with direct, prolonged contact with infected birds, whether alive or dead. 

In line with the National Contingency Plan for Avian Influenza, containment and eradication measures have already been implemented. These efforts are aimed at eliminating the outbreak, safeguarding the productivity of Brazil’s poultry sector, and ensuring the continued supply of safe, high-quality food to the population. 

The Ministry is also issuing official notifications to stakeholders in the poultry production chain, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Ministries of Health and the Environment, as well as Brazil’s trade partners. 

Brazil’s veterinary services have been trained and equipped for the prevention and management of avian influenza since the early 2000s. 

Over the past two decades, numerous proactive measures have been taken to prevent the virus from entering Brazil’s commercial poultry sector. These include the monitoring of wild bird populations, epidemiological surveillance of both commercial and backyard poultry farms, ongoing training of public and private veterinary professionals, sanitary awareness campaigns, and surveillance at points of entry for animals and animal products. 

Thanks to these measures, Brazil successfully delayed the entry of avian influenza into its commercial poultry system for nearly 20 years—an achievement that reflects the country’s robust animal health infrastructure and coordinated biosecurity strategy.



Press information
imprensa@agro.gov.br