Goiás declares a preventive zoosanitary emergency situation against bird flu

The Government of Goiás, through the Goiás Agricultural Defense Agency (Agrodefesa), published this Saturday (17/5), decree No. 10,693 of a zoosanitary emergency situation in the state of Goiás to mitigate the risk of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (IAAP). As a preventive measure, the measure aims to reinforce the actions, already developed in Goiás territory, of surveillance, prevention and prompt response in view of the national scenario of the disease, even without any record of avian flu in the State to date, either in commercial or subsistence farms, as well as in wild birds.

Agrodefesa's decision follows guidelines from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa), which extended by 180 days, through Ordinance No. 784/2025, the validity of the national zoosanitary emergency declared in 2023. The focus is to expand preventive work, since Mapa itself confirmed last Thursday (15/5) the detection of the avian influenza virus in a commercial poultry breeding farm in the municipality of Montenegro, in Rio Grande do Sul.

In August 2023, Goiás had already published Decree No. 10,297, which established a preventive zoosanitary emergency situation to mitigate the risk of avian flu in the state. The state decree was valid for 180 days, from the date of publication, and was extended several times.

The publication of the new decree in Goiás, which is valid for 180 days, seeks to align the state with measures already adopted at the federal level, ensuring agility in the mobilization of resources and the implementation of immediate actions in the event of an outbreak of the disease in the state of Goiás. The decree will allow for the strengthening of coordination between public and private institutions, increasing the effectiveness of biosafety and health control measures. “This is a strategic and necessary measure. Goiás plays an important role in the national poultry industry and we need to protect our flocks and our economy with rapid and coordinated actions,” emphasizes the president of Agrodefesa, José Ricardo Caixeta Ramos.

Poultry farming is one of the pillars of agribusiness in Goiás and Brazil. In 2024, Brazil produced around 15 million tons of chicken meat, remaining the world's largest exporter of the product. Goiás ranks 4th in the national ranking of poultry production, with emphasis on the Itaberaí and Rio Verde hubs — the 2nd and 6th largest producers in Brazil, respectively. The sector directly employs more than 240,000 people in the state.

“Keeping Goiás free from avian influenza is essential to guarantee food safety, animal health and the continuity of international markets, which recognize the quality and health of Brazilian poultry production. With the declaration of a state of emergency, the State will be able to ensure faster actions, from active surveillance to the containment and eradication of possible outbreaks, should they arise”, reinforces President José Ricardo Caixeta Ramos.

Objectives
Among the main objectives of the zoosanitary emergency decree are technical, logistical and financial support for emergency actions, mitigating the risk of the disease entering commercial flocks, strengthening institutional integration and continuous monitoring, protecting human and animal health, in accordance with the principles of One Health and maintaining the economic and commercial stability of the poultry sector in Goiás.

“Agrodefesa reinforces that the population, producers and other links in the production chain must pay close attention to biosecurity measures and immediately report any suspected occurrence of disease in birds through the Agency's official channels,” explains Agrodefesa's Director of Agricultural Defense, Rafael Vieira.