Brazil declared a 60-day animal health emergency across four municipalities in Santa Catarina after confirming Newcastle disease at a commercial turkey farm, as it prepared to notify poultry trading partners.
The Oct. 19 order covers Nova Itaberaba, Águas Frias, Coronel Freitas and Nova Erechim. Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) confirmed the infection Oct. 18 and announced it the following day.
The Nova Itaberaba farm holds about 6,000 turkeys. None had left the property or entered the food supply, Mapa said. Veterinary officials have barred bird movements at the farm and plan to cull the flock before cleaning and disinfecting the premises.
The response also calls for monitoring about 133 properties in the area. Veterinary teams plan to examine birds and collect samples to check for signs of the virus.
Mapa said it is notifying trading partners and that any import restrictions would follow Brazil’s agreement with each market. Associação Brasileira de Proteína Animal (ABPA) President Ricardo Santin told Reuters that the agreement with China calls for an initial halt to Brazilian poultry meat exports while Chinese authorities decide how broadly to apply a restriction. Santin said potential export losses could not yet be estimated.
Brazil’s previous commercial poultry outbreak of Newcastle disease was in Rio Grande do Sul in July 2024, according to Mapa’s disease record. The ministry said poultry products that have passed official inspection remain safe to eat. It plans to release further information as testing and containment work proceed.
