October 9, 2006

Brazil investing US$18.5 million in bird flu prevention

After months of chicken industry complaints that money promised to prevent bird flu has yet to leave government coffers, the Agriculture Ministry said late Thursday (Oct 5) that it will invest 40 million Brazilian reals (US$18.51 million) effective immediately.

A spokesman confirmed Friday that the 40 million reals was currently available for investments in animal health and animal transportation work by federal authorities, and in animal disease lab improvements. Roughly 8.6 million reals is destined for the animal health authorities at government agency Vigiagro for technological upgrades, vehicles and public service announcements in 19 states, many known as migratory bird routes. Migratory birds can transmit the deadly H5N1 virus of bird flu to chickens. Brazil is the world's leading chicken producer and exporter. Bird flu has never been discovered in Brazil.

The Agriculture Ministry said in a press statement that 13.4 million reals will go toward laboratory upgrades in the Lanagro national animal testing labs in Sao Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Goias, Para, Pernambuco and Santa Catarina states.

Another 18 million reals will go toward prevention and control measures. Half of that money will go to modernising a national quarantine facility in Sao Paulo, where live animals coming from other nations are brought in for tests.

The government promised 16 million reals for animal defense last year, but only recently released it this week to make up part of the 40 million reals total announced on Thursday.