EN 
PT_BR 
The Government of Goiás, through the Goiás Agricultural Defense Agency (Agrodefesa), acquired personal protective equipment (PPE) and operational supplies with the aim of strengthening surveillance, diagnosis, and control actions against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HAI) in the state. The investment, exceeding R$160,000, aims to ensure the protection of Goiás' poultry industry, the safety of employees involved in field operations, and the preservation of public health.
According to the president of Agrodefesa, José Ricardo Caixeta Ramos, the initiative reinforces the Agency's commitment to prevention and preparedness in the face of sanitary emergencies. “Agrodefesa maintains continuous preparedness to face animal health challenges in Goiás. The acquisition of these materials strengthens our capacity to act, allowing for a rapid, technical, and safe response in any risk scenario for poultry farming in Goiás,” he emphasizes.
According to Rafael Vieira, Director of Agricultural Defense at Agrodefesa, combating Avian Influenza involves teams working directly in the field, conducting inspections, collecting samples, and monitoring farms; and adopting, if necessary, containment and disinfection measures. “In these activities, exposure to the influenza virus represents a real risk to the health of employees and a potential vector for the spread of the disease. The acquisition of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is fundamental to guaranteeing the biosecurity of the professionals involved, preventing contamination and the subsequent spread of the virus,” he explains.
The Director of Integrated Management at Agrodefesa, Renan Willian Martins, emphasizes that efficiency in the field depends on planned and robust administrative support. “Administrative and financial management must be aligned with the technical needs and mission of the Agency. In this sense, the acquisition of these materials is an investment in the state's agricultural defense infrastructure, ensuring that our teams have the best resources to protect the economy and the health of the population of Goiás,” he points out.
Materials purchased
Among the PPE and supplies acquired are face masks, coveralls, gloves, hats, aprons and plastic boots; tests for the saturated steam sterilization process; buckets, brushes, multi-purpose boxes, refrigerated boxes, trays, high-pressure washers, hoses, sprayers, reservoirs, drums, tables, chairs, emergency lighting, thermal bottles and tents.
According to the Agency's Purchasing and Administrative Support Manager, Ivone Pereira Miranda, speed in the acquisition process was a priority to ensure that the teams were not left without support. “We worked to make these supplies available quickly, ensuring that the logistics flow meets emergency demands. The delivery of these materials is the result of rigorous planning to ensure that the sanitary defense has the necessary resources at the exact moment of action,” she states.
Focus containment
In June 2025, Agrodefesa confirmed and eradicated an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in backyard poultry in the municipality of Santo Antônio da Barra, in southwestern Goiás. The Agency acted to contain the outbreak, in work coordinated by the Zoosanitary Emergency Operations Center (Coezoo) and with the support of Civil Defense, Public Security, the Health Department, the Education Department, and the municipalities of Rio Verde and Santo Antônio da Barra.
According to Denise Toledo, Animal Health Manager at Agrodefesa, the success of the operation was the result of integrated work. “We acted with strategic precision from the moment of notification. Compliance with the Contingency Plan ensured the safety of livestock in the region. The availability of appropriate equipment is what sustains this effectiveness, allowing our staff to perform their duties with maximum protection and technical quality,” she emphasizes.
Avian influenza is a notifiable disease to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOH) due to its high contagiousness. The occurrence of the disease can lead to the need to cull entire flocks and the imposition of severe sanitary barriers, harming the marketing of poultry products both domestically and in exports, and causing social and economic impacts.
