March 23, 2006

Brazil monitoring nine migratory bird routes

Brazil announced this week that it was currently monitoring nine migratory bird routes in the country, increasing its vigilance on bird flu as the deadly H5N1 strain of the disease continues spreading throughout Europe and the Middle East.

The Agriculture Ministry said in a press statement on Monday (Mar 20) that it was currently monitoring migratory birds, believed to be transmitters of bird flu, in Rio Grande do Sul, Parana, Mato Grosso do Sul, Bahia, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, Maranhao, Para and Amapa states.

The states are home to the top migratory bird nesting grounds, from the Pantanal in Mato Grosso do Sul, to the Amazon in Para and Amapa states.

Federal animal veterinarians and bird specialists from local universities and the Brazilian Institute for the Environment (Ibama) are testing birds that are expected to head north next month.

The Brazilian government has been monitoring migratory birds since 2003 because of the disease.

In Monday's press statement, Agriculture Defence Secretary Gabriel Maciel, said that the federal government was building a database that lists the location of every poultry farm in the country and would make it available to agriculture departments at the state level.

Brazil is the world's largest chicken producer and biggest chicken exporter by volume.

The H5N1 strain of bird flu has never been detected in Brazil.