The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) published, this Tuesday (6), Ordinance No. 706, which declares the end of the state of zoosanitary emergency in Rio Grande do Sul, due to the detection of the pathogenic virus of Newcastle disease in commercial birds.
Newcastle disease is a viral disease that affects domestic and wild birds, causing respiratory signs, often followed by nervous manifestations, diarrhea and edema of the head in these animals.
Mandatory notification by the World Organization for Animal Health (WHO), it is caused by infection with a virus belonging to the avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 (APMV-1) group, virulent in commercially produced birds.
Considering the maintenance of epidemiological surveillance conditions maintained in the field, the Map restricts the export of poultry products and their genetic material to the region around 10 kilometers from the focus of the disease.
In the area under the supervision of the official veterinary service, special inspection procedures for products destined for the domestic market are still maintained, which may include the need for thermal processing before being sold on the domestic market.
The declaration of a state of emergency for Newcastle disease had been published on July 19, valid for 90 days, so that epidemiological surveillance actions could be carried out more quickly, with the application of outbreak eradication procedures, already provided for in the Contingency Plan for the disease.
“The assessment of the epidemiological condition and the absence of new cases with symptoms of respiratory and nervous syndrome diseases in the region made it possible to improve the situation and indicate that the health situation is normal in the state of Rio Grande do Sul”, explains the director of the Animal Health Department, Marcelo Mota.
On July 26, Mapa notified OMSA of the completion of the cleaning and disinfection work at the outbreak and the following week, on July 31, the results of the surveillance actions carried out in the area were communicated, which indicated that there were no new suspected cases of the disease.
“From the beginning, we have treated the case with complete transparency, with the aim of reassuring both our population and importing countries about the security of our agricultural defense system. The readiness and commitment of the agricultural defense teams, both federal and state, were fundamental for this case to be resolved quickly and efficiently,” highlights the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Carlos Fávaro.
Focus confirmed
On July 17, Mapa confirmed the positive diagnosis for Newcastle disease in the municipality of Anta Gorda (RS).
The analysis was carried out by the Federal Laboratory of Agricultural Defense of São Paulo, recognized by the WHO as an international reference laboratory for diagnosing the disease.
