Balanced News: Brazil Declares Health Emergency Amid Avian Flu Cases in Wild Birds

Brazil has declared a state of animal health emergency for 180 days after eight cases of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 were detected in wild birds, prompting the creation of an emergency operations centre to coordinate actions. Although an infection by the H5N1 subtype of avian flu in wild birds does not trigger trade bans, a case of bird flu on a farm usually results in the entire flock being killed and can trigger trade restrictions from importing countries. Brazil is the world’s biggest chicken meat exporter with $9.7bn in sales last year.