Brazil Declares Health Emergency Over Newcastle Disease Outbreak

Brazil's agriculture ministry declared an animal health emergency in Rio Grande do Sul following an outbreak of Newcastle disease on a poultry farm, where 7,000 birds perished. The last confirmed cases were in 2006. The outbreak may result in trade bans, with Saudi Arabia and Japan already imposing restrictions.

Brazil's agriculture ministry declared an animal health emergency in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul on Friday after detecting Newcastle disease on a poultry farm.

Authorities are working to contain the outbreak, which has led to the deaths of around 7,000 birds on a small farm, half of the property's flock. This is the first confirmed case since 2006, when subsistence birds in Amazonas, Mato Grosso, and Rio Grande do Sul were affected. These birds are typically not used for trade but for family food needs.

Newcastle disease is a viral infection that impacts both domestic and wild birds, causing severe respiratory issues and sometimes death. Reporting cases of this disease is mandatory under World Organisation for Animal Health guidelines. The agriculture ministry has warned that such outbreaks could lead to trade bans, with Saudi Arabia already suspending poultry imports from Rio Grande do Sul and Japan limiting restrictions to a 50-kilometer radius around the outbreak area.

Goldman Sachs analysts noted the trade suspensions in a Thursday note to clients, while the meat lobby group ABPA did not comment ahead of a scheduled press conference on the matter.

(With inputs from agencies.)