Brazil, the world’s top chicken exporter, has confirmed its first case of bird flu on a commercial poultry farm. The outbreak was reported in the city of Montenegro, located in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.
The farm, which supplies meat processor Vibra Foods, is now under quarantine. Vibra, a major player in Brazil’s poultry industry, backed by Tyson Foods, has yet to respond to media inquiries. The outbreak has led to the death or culling of 17,000 chickens so far.
Following international safety protocols, China, Brazil’s largest poultry buyer, has placed a 60-day ban on chicken imports from the country. Other major buyers, including the European Union and South Korea, are expected to follow suit. Argentina has already suspended all poultry imports from Brazil until further notice.
However, Brazil’s Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro noted that new agreements with countries like Japan, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia may allow trade from unaffected regions to continue, reducing the impact of the nationwide ban.
Brazil exported $10 billion worth of chicken meat last year, making up about 35 per cent of global poultry trade. The southern state of Rio Grande do Sul alone accounts for 15 per cent of that output. Major meat processors like BRF and JBS operate several plants in the area.
Local officials say veterinary teams are actively containing the virus and screening farms within a 10-kilometer radius of the affected site. They are working to prevent further spread and reassure trading partners that the situation is under control.
Favaro emphasized that poultry products shipped before the outbreak will not be affected by trade restrictions. He also reassured consumers that bird flu cannot be spread through eating properly inspected chicken or eggs.
The bird flu virus, which has severely impacted poultry industries worldwide, especially in the United States, continues to raise concerns about potential human transmission. So far, Brazil has only seen cases among wild birds until this incident.
Industry group ABPA said all necessary measures have been taken quickly and that the outbreak is being closely monitored. JBS deferred comment to ABPA, while BRF’s CEO expressed confidence in Brazil’s health protocols and expects the issue to be resolved soon.
