The Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce praised Brazil’s response to its first ever reported cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), according to a statement on Tuesday, as outbreaks in wild birds spread to more states.Arab buyers are key for Brazil they buy some 32% of Brazilian poultry exports by volume and almost 35% by value, the chamber said. Brazil is the world’s largest chicken exporter and notified outbreaks for the first time on May 15.
According to the Brazilian Agriculture Ministry, only outbreaks in commercial poultry farms would compromise Brazil’s sanitary status as free of HPAI. So far, the ministry has confirmed 24 cases of HPAI in four states, all in wild bird species.
“No Arab country has requested a formal or official consultation on the event,” the chamber’s Secretary General Tamer Mansour said referring to recent notifications of bird flu infections. “This is thanks to Brazil being very transparent in transmitting information.” Read more