EN 
PT_BR 
Five days after the confirmation of the presence of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus on a rural property with subsistence domestic poultry in Acorizal, teams from the State Institute for Agricultural Defense (Indea) continue to actively work on the case to prevent the virus from reaching other municipalities.
Photo: Indea
Ten teams with 30 professionals from the agency have already visited 150 rural properties surrounding the area where the outbreak was detected, to check if domestic birds show clinical signs indicating the presence of avian influenza. “This week another 175 will be visited. In these visits, which we call active surveillance, we also provide sanitary education, to guide producers to be attentive to signs of bird mortality and to contact us if they suspect the presence of the avian influenza virus in domestic birds,” explains the coordinator of Animal Health Defense at Indea, João Marcelo Néspoli.
Over the weekend, the poultry farm where the outbreak was detected underwent cleaning and disinfection. To date, 164 birds have been culled and 212 eggs destroyed, in accordance with official protocols.
The sanitary barrier set up at the property entrance has been dismantled, and the area is now under a 45-day sanitary lockdown, during which time it is prohibited from housing birds. “The occurrence of avian influenza in backyard poultry poses a greater risk in farms where there is contact with wild birds, especially aquatic birds such as wild ducks and terns. Economic losses occur when the virus reaches commercial farms, causing export blockages to other countries and negative impacts on the Brazilian poultry sector,” comments João Marcelo, a veterinarian at Indea.
On Monday (19) control and eradication activities continue on a 24-hour basis, with trained and equipped teams to ensure the containment of the outbreak and the protection of the State's poultry health.
Indea informs poultry farmers of the main signs of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HAI):
– High mortality rate: Birds dying rapidly, both domestic and wild.
Respiratory signs: Sneezing, coughing, runny nose and eyes, difficulty breathing.
Neurological signs: Lack of motor coordination, twisted neck (torticollis), unsteady gait.
– Circulatory signs: Edema (swelling) on the face, comb, and chin with a bluish/cyanotic color.
General Signs: Lethargy (very quiet bird), lack of appetite, drop in egg production.
If you notice sick or dead birds with the above signs, Indea should be contacted immediately. Notification can be made by calling 0800 065 3015 or at the nearest local unit.
