On May 15, 2025, Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) confirmed the detection of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial poultry farm in Montenegro, a municipality of the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
It is important to highlight that the disease is not transmitted through the consumption of poultry meat or eggs, and there are no restrictions on consumption or risks to the end consumer. In an official statement, MAPA reinforced that the risk of human infection with the avian influenza virus is low and occurs primarily among handlers or professionals who have close contact with infected birds (alive or deceased).
This is the first HPAI outbreak detected on a commercial farm in Brazil. Up until then, outbreaks had only been identified in wild animals and backyard poultry, with the country’s first case appearing in May 2023, nearly 20 years after the disease began circulating globally (since 2006).
All mandatory measures to contain and eradicate the outbreak have been initiated. Official notifications were also sent to the production chain, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), Brazil’s Ministries of Health and Environment, as well as the country’s trading partners.
Guarantees
Brazil has a robust health defense system, due to the work of its Official Veterinary Service (SVO), in collaboration with rural producers and other stakeholders in the production chain.
The national Avian Influenza Surveillance Plan includes both passive surveillance – in whichsamples are collected in consonance with case notifications – and active surveillance, conducting systematic investigations in order to find more cases.
Since 2022, approximately 4,000 investigations have been conducted in Brazil in response to suspected cases of respiratory diseases in birds, with sample collection occurring in more than 1,000 situations. MAPA maintains a dashboard containing daily updates regarding the data (available here).
Concerning the containment and eradication of the disease, in the event of outbreaks, Brazil has a Contingency Plan for Avian Influenza and Virulent Newcastle Disease.
After a case is verified, in addition to declaring an animal health emergency, sanitary measures are also implemented in the protection and surveillance zones surrounding the property where the outbreak took place.
Protection zones cover a 3=kilometer radius around the outbreak, while surveillance zonescomprise of 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from the protection zone, totaling a 10-kilometer radius (6.2 miles).
MAPA Ordinance No. 795, dated May 15, 2025, declared an animal health emergency in the municipality of Montenegro, Rio Grande do Sul, for 60 days.
On the property where the outbreak was confirmed, a special group for monitoring suspected diseases (GEASE) is responsible for determining the protection and emergency zones and ensuring the implementation of the following measures:
▪ Immediate on-site culling of all birds on the infected facility;
▪ The investigation of all poultry properties/facilities within a 10-kilometer radius;
▪ Formation of a response team for containment and eradication;
▪ Cleaning and disinfection of bird housing and access areas on the property;
▪ The removal from the farm of any type of equipment, feed, waste, litter, manure, or other materials used or generated by poultry production is prohibited;
▪ The barring of all animals entering or exiting the property, including dogs, cats, horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs;
▪ Control of vehicle traffic on access roads to the property;
▪ Designation of sanitary barriers.
Market
The decision to suspend imports of Brazilian poultry relies on the trade agreement in place with each importing country.
Following the confirmation of the case, China and the European Union suspended purchases of poultry from all regions of Brazil.
Exports account for around 30% of our production. Between January and April 2025, Brazil shipped 1.73 million tons of chicken meat, generating US$3.12 billion in revenue. The Chinese are the largest importers, accounting for 15% of revenue, followed by Saudi Arabia (11%), the United Arab Emirates (9.7%), Japan (7.5%), Mexico (5.4%), and the European Union (5%).
It is worth highlighting that in March 2025, Japan – the fourth largest buyer of Brazilian chicken meat – approved a new International Health Certificate (IHC) for avian influenza, establishing that trade restrictions due to disease detection will be limited to municipalities where cases of the disease are reported. Previously, this restriction was applied at the state level.
In addition to mitigating market impacts, such a measure reflects the international market’s confidence in Brazil’s animal health inspection system.
It is now up to MAPA to continue negotiations with each importing country to swiftly reestablish trade and reduce the impact on the domestic market, the primary destination for Brazilian poultry, absorbing virtually 70% of total production.