World News | Brazil Confirms First Bird Flu Outbreak in Commercial Poultry

Sao Paulo, May 16 (AP) Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock on Friday confirmed the country's first bird flu outbreak in a commercial poultry.

The virus was found at a facility in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, the ministry said in a statement. It added it has begun implementing a contingency plan “not only to eliminate the disease but also to maintain the sector's productive capacity, ensuring supply and, consequently, food security for the population.”

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The ministry added that it has also notified the World Organisation for Animal Health, the Ministries of Health and the Environment and Brazil's trade partners.

Agriculture and Livestock minister Carlos Fávaro said Friday that China has halted poultry imports from Brazil for 60 days, according to local media.

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The ministry also said the disease is not transmitted through the consumption of poultry meat or eggs.

"The risk of human infection by the avian flu virus is low and occurs mostly among handlers or professionals who have close contact with infected birds (alive or dead),” the ministry said. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)