By Ana Mano
SAO PAULO (Reuters) -The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has chosen Brazil, which in May reported its first outbreak of bird flu on a chicken breeder farm, to host next week’s global event on prevention and control of the disease.
Bird flu has spread around the globe and led to hundreds of millions of poultry being culled. It has also been reported in dairy cows, cats, and humans.
In an interview on Friday, Jorge Meza, FAO’s representitive for Brazil, praised Brazil’s robust bio-security protocols, saying the country has “a lot to share” with other nations. Meza said national systems can be strengthened through Brazil’s regional leadership, which would involve information sharing, capacity building and transfer of good practices.
Mitigating the devastating impacts of the bird flu, which triggered trade bans against Brazil and other poultry producers, requires an integrated response supported by constant investments from both the public and private sectors, according to FAO.
“No country or sector can face this crisis alone,” the agency said in a statement.
Brazil sends chicken to some 150 countries around the world. While some importers relaxed trade restrictions after Brazil controlled the outbreak in June, top buyer China has not resumed buying.
So far, Brazil has avoided widespread bird flu among commercial poultry flocks similar to those that recently devastated European and U.S. farms.
But there are vulnerabilities, notably at smaller chicken and egg producers in Brazil, who employ alternative modes of production and handle millions of animals. Meza confirmed raising cage-free or free-range chickens carries a greater risk, as flocks could be more exposed to contact with infected wildlife.
To reduce risk, mapping out all chicken farms, big and small, is crucial, according to FAO’s Andres Gonzalez, an expert in sustainable livestock.
“This allows for direct contact with producers, before an emergency, to disseminate best practices. And, if there is an emergency, apply control measures as soon as possible,” Gonzalez said.
(Reporting by Ana Mano; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
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