Brazil, the world’s leading chicken exporter, has voluntarily suspended poultry exports to several countries following the detection of Newcastle disease in Rio Grande do Sul. This decision was announced by the country’s agriculture ministry on Friday.
Newcastle Disease Outbreak
- Location and Impact: The outbreak occurred in Brazil’s southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul, where approximately 7,000 birds died on a chicken farm. The remaining 7,000 birds were culled as part of health protocols to contain the disease.
- Disease Details: Newcastle disease causes respiratory issues in birds and can sometimes be fatal. Government investigators detected at least one positive case from a sample of 12 birds from the affected flock.
Export Restrictions
- Scope of Restrictions: The temporary export restrictions are expected to impact between 50,000 to 60,000 metric tons of Brazilian poultry exports, which could be significant given that Brazil produces 1.2 million tons and exports 430,000 tons of poultry products monthly.
- Affected Regions: The restrictions vary by destination, ranging from a complete halt on Brazilian poultry exports to limitations on products solely from Rio Grande do Sul.
- Countries Affected: The export restrictions impact sales to 44 countries, including major markets like China, Argentina, the European Union, Japan, and Saudi Arabia.
- Production and Export Figures: Rio Grande do Sul represents 15% of Brazil’s poultry production and export.
Government Actions
- Health Emergency Declaration: The agriculture ministry has declared an animal health emergency in Rio Grande do Sul in response to the outbreak.
- International Guidelines: Under World Organisation for Animal Health guidelines, countries must notify international bodies of Newcastle disease cases. The last confirmed cases in Brazil were in 2006, involving subsistence birds in Amazonas, Mato Grosso, and Rio Grande do Sul.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
- What prompted Brazil to halt poultry exports?
- A) Economic sanctions
- B) Newcastle disease outbreak
- C) Bird flu pandemic
- D) Trade disputes
- How many birds were culled in response to the Newcastle disease outbreak?
- A) 3,500
- B) 5,000
- C) 7,000
- D) 10,000
- What percentage of Brazilian poultry production and exports does Rio Grande do Sul account for?
- A) 10%
- B) 15%
- C) 20%
- D) 25%
- Which countries are among those affected by Brazil’s export restrictions?
- A) India and South Africa
- B) Canada and Mexico
- C) China and Japan
- D) Russia and Turkey
- When were the last confirmed cases of Newcastle disease in Brazil prior to this outbreak?
- A) 2000
- B) 2003
- C) 2006
- D) 2010