Geography helps shield Brazil from U.S.-style bird flu epidemic, for now
Brazil's vast and diverse geography, with the Amazon to the north, mountain ranges along the Atlantic coast and the Andes to its west, may have helped it avoid the U.S. fate of widespread bird flu among commercial poultry flocks by keeping migratory birds away from farms in the country's interior.
Wednesday marks more than a month without a new bird flu case on a commercial poultry farm in Brazil, ending an observation period after its first such outbreak. The success brings hope to farmers that there will be no repeat of the persistent infections in the U.S., where the virus devastated the domestic egg industry and triggered lasting trade bans.
There are doubts, however, whether the landscape can offer long-term protection.
Bird flu has spread around the world, even reaching Antarctica for the first time in 2024, in a threat to poultry flocks, wild birds and mammals, including U.S. dairy cows.
In Brazil, the Andes may delay the entrance of virulent new strains for two or three years, said Alex Jahn, researcher at Oregon State University's department of integrative biology.
But Brazil will remain at risk for outbreaks as wild bird populations now infected with the virus circulate more widely. South American birds can migrate in all directions depending on rainfall, Jahn said, unlike the north-south seasonal migration over the United States.
Those migratory flyways over the U.S. appear to be major vectors for contagion between wild birds and commercial poultry, said John Clifford, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's former chief veterinary officer.
"If you look at the wild waterfowl patterns, that's probably the key," said Clifford. "We have four flyways coming in through the U.S."
By contrast, the Amazon basin acts as a natural filter keeping wild birds away from Brazilian poultry, said Guillermo Zavala, a U.S.-based avian health consultant who has worked in the poultry industry for more than 30 years.
The wild birds spreading the virus tend to spend time in nesting areas north of the equator, he said.
Masaio Ishizuka, a senior epidemiologist at the Sao Paulo University, said evidence suggests migratory birds have now infected local Brazilian species, making the bird flu virus endemic in the world's largest chicken exporter, which accounts for 39% of global trade.
Last month, Brazil's first outbreak on a commercial farm led to the culling of about 17,000 breeding chickens, producing birds raised for meat. Since then, meatpackers BRF and JBS culled at least 141,000 healthy chickens preemptively.
Brazil has detected 174 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, since 2023, mostly in waterfowl along the coast, according to government data.
The United States has confirmed the virus in about 10 times as many commercial and backyard flocks since 2022, the USDA said. About 175 million U.S. chickens, turkeys and other birds have been culled.
China has blocked poultry products from Brazil and most U.S. states due to outbreaks, and other nations also restricted shipments. Russia, Saudi Arabia and Mexico enforce statewide restrictions that only apply to poultry from Rio Grande do Sul, where the one commercial outbreak occurred. Japan and United Arab Emirates are among nations with even narrower import bans, restricting only poultry products from the town of Montenegro.
Brazil's first commercial outbreak hit a chicken breeding farm, where biosecurity rules are supposed to be stricter than on facilities where chickens are raised for meat, said Felipe Sousa, assistant professor at Sao Paulo University's school of agriculture.
Security measures at breeding facilities require workers to shower before going in and use clean uniforms and shoes provided by employers.
Brazilian farmers are also required to put up fences 5 meters away from chicken houses and one-inch mesh screening, commonly known as chicken wire, both around the walls and the property to keep stray or wild animals away from flocks, Sousa said.
Many U.S. farms have similar precautions, except for the fencing and screening rules, said Ashley Peterson, a senior vice president at the U.S. National Chicken Council.
U.S. chicken flocks are tested for bird flu before being slaughtered as part of a monitoring program, she added.
Brazilian meat lobby ABPA and the government did not comment on pre-slaughter protocols.
Clifford, who works with a U.S. poultry export association, said he expects more commercial outbreaks in Brazil with the virus present in wild waterfowl.
"If they only have one, I would have a lot of curiosity about their surveillance program," he said. "They would be darn lucky."
Officials recently confirmed backyard and wild species outbreaks in the center of Brazil, showing the virus is traveling inland.
In response, Marcelo Mota, Brazil's chief veterinary officer, said the country will enforce new biosecurity guidance for zoos, parks and conservation sites.
"We will be busy," he said.
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Japan Times
2 days ago
- Japan Times
Geography helps shield Brazil from U.S.-style bird flu epidemic, for now
Brazil's vast and diverse geography, with the Amazon to the north, mountain ranges along the Atlantic coast and the Andes to its west, may have helped it avoid the U.S. fate of widespread bird flu among commercial poultry flocks by keeping migratory birds away from farms in the country's interior. Wednesday marks more than a month without a new bird flu case on a commercial poultry farm in Brazil, ending an observation period after its first such outbreak. The success brings hope to farmers that there will be no repeat of the persistent infections in the U.S., where the virus devastated the domestic egg industry and triggered lasting trade bans. There are doubts, however, whether the landscape can offer long-term protection. Bird flu has spread around the world, even reaching Antarctica for the first time in 2024, in a threat to poultry flocks, wild birds and mammals, including U.S. dairy cows. In Brazil, the Andes may delay the entrance of virulent new strains for two or three years, said Alex Jahn, researcher at Oregon State University's department of integrative biology. But Brazil will remain at risk for outbreaks as wild bird populations now infected with the virus circulate more widely. South American birds can migrate in all directions depending on rainfall, Jahn said, unlike the north-south seasonal migration over the United States. Those migratory flyways over the U.S. appear to be major vectors for contagion between wild birds and commercial poultry, said John Clifford, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's former chief veterinary officer. "If you look at the wild waterfowl patterns, that's probably the key," said Clifford. "We have four flyways coming in through the U.S." By contrast, the Amazon basin acts as a natural filter keeping wild birds away from Brazilian poultry, said Guillermo Zavala, a U.S.-based avian health consultant who has worked in the poultry industry for more than 30 years. The wild birds spreading the virus tend to spend time in nesting areas north of the equator, he said. Masaio Ishizuka, a senior epidemiologist at the Sao Paulo University, said evidence suggests migratory birds have now infected local Brazilian species, making the bird flu virus endemic in the world's largest chicken exporter, which accounts for 39% of global trade. Last month, Brazil's first outbreak on a commercial farm led to the culling of about 17,000 breeding chickens, producing birds raised for meat. Since then, meatpackers BRF and JBS culled at least 141,000 healthy chickens preemptively. Brazil has detected 174 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, since 2023, mostly in waterfowl along the coast, according to government data. The United States has confirmed the virus in about 10 times as many commercial and backyard flocks since 2022, the USDA said. About 175 million U.S. chickens, turkeys and other birds have been culled. China has blocked poultry products from Brazil and most U.S. states due to outbreaks, and other nations also restricted shipments. Russia, Saudi Arabia and Mexico enforce statewide restrictions that only apply to poultry from Rio Grande do Sul, where the one commercial outbreak occurred. Japan and United Arab Emirates are among nations with even narrower import bans, restricting only poultry products from the town of Montenegro. Brazil's first commercial outbreak hit a chicken breeding farm, where biosecurity rules are supposed to be stricter than on facilities where chickens are raised for meat, said Felipe Sousa, assistant professor at Sao Paulo University's school of agriculture. Security measures at breeding facilities require workers to shower before going in and use clean uniforms and shoes provided by employers. Brazilian farmers are also required to put up fences 5 meters away from chicken houses and one-inch mesh screening, commonly known as chicken wire, both around the walls and the property to keep stray or wild animals away from flocks, Sousa said. Many U.S. farms have similar precautions, except for the fencing and screening rules, said Ashley Peterson, a senior vice president at the U.S. National Chicken Council. U.S. chicken flocks are tested for bird flu before being slaughtered as part of a monitoring program, she added. Brazilian meat lobby ABPA and the government did not comment on pre-slaughter protocols. Clifford, who works with a U.S. poultry export association, said he expects more commercial outbreaks in Brazil with the virus present in wild waterfowl. "If they only have one, I would have a lot of curiosity about their surveillance program," he said. "They would be darn lucky." Officials recently confirmed backyard and wild species outbreaks in the center of Brazil, showing the virus is traveling inland. In response, Marcelo Mota, Brazil's chief veterinary officer, said the country will enforce new biosecurity guidance for zoos, parks and conservation sites. "We will be busy," he said.
Japan Times
02-06-2025
- Japan Times
Trump's WHO withdrawal could cost the U.S. dearly
While the COVID-19 pandemic is firmly in the past for many Americans, U.S. households continue to bear the costs of infectious-disease outbreaks. A few months ago, the price of eggs in the United States soared to a record high, largely owing to the spread of H5N1 bird flu. Since March 2024, the virus has ravaged U.S. chicken farms, leading to tens of millions of poultry deaths from infection or culling. More ominously, at least 70 human cases of bird flu have been identified in the U.S., with one death reported in Louisiana. In a recent report about enhancing the response to H5N1 in America and globally, the Global Virus Network, a consortium of the world's top virologists, warned of 'the terrible consequences of underreacting to current threats.' But while bird flu poses the most immediate risk to Americans, it is by no means the only one. Virulent infectious-disease outbreaks in other countries, such as mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ebola in Uganda, Marburg in Tanzania and multicountry outbreaks of cholera do not respect borders and thus are a threat to people everywhere — including in the U.S. Without the efforts of the World Health Organization to contain these outbreaks, the risks of wider transmission would be much greater. This underscores the need for a global agency like the WHO to supervise cross-border cooperation — and the shortsightedness of U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the U.S. from the organization. Despite being the world's richest and most powerful country, America is not immune to another COVID-19-style calamity and abandoning multilateralism and neglecting pandemic preparedness (such as the stockpiling of treatments and vaccines) will make it all the more vulnerable. One might think that the deadly spread of COVID-19, prolonged by the emergence of new virus strains, would convince policymakers to strengthen the world's public-health architecture — especially as experts warn that future pandemics could be even worse. But with other leaders indicating that they may follow Trump's example and leave the WHO, the resources for pandemic prevention and control could dwindle to the point that global outbreaks become more frequent and difficult to overcome. If Trump follows through with the move, his administration will become increasingly isolated and impotent. American officials, including at U.S. military installations abroad, will lose access to the WHO-led and -facilitated global networks that collect and share information about infectious-disease threats and respond to outbreaks. Moreover, the U.S. government will have no say in developing new solutions (which will almost invariably be less effective) for controlling the spread of diseases across borders — including its own. Trump has suggested that he may change his mind, presumably if the grievances set out in his executive order to withdraw the U.S. from the organization are addressed. This implies that the WHO should apply pressure on China to identify the pandemic's origins. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, for his part, has refused to accept the Chinese government's prevarications. If Trump can propose a way to determine the cause of COVID-19, I am sure that the WHO's leadership would gladly hear it. Trump's second condition is that the WHO undertake reforms and use its resources more effectively at the local level, with a greater focus on stopping the spread of infectious diseases. This is a demand that can and should be met. To that end, Tedros has already promised more targeted use of funds and implemented other measures to transform the organization. In addition, under Tedros, the WHO has transformed the way it raises funds. Its member states have sharply increased their annual contributions and it has diversified its donor base to share the funding load more widely. This is all part of the WHO's drive to be more sustainably financed, a plan launched as part of Tedros's effort to transform the organization's operations after he took office in 2017. Back then, he and member states assessed that the departure of a major donor could leave the WHO's programs and independence vulnerable to funding shocks. Who knew it would be the U.S. But, had those changes not been made, we can only imagine how much more challenging the WHO's current financial situation would be. The Trump administration should welcome these changes, not least because it benefits from having a seat at the table. If the U.S. ultimately abandons the WHO, developing evidence-based guidance and regulations for chronic-disease prevention and management will be significantly harder, undermining the administration's goal of addressing America's chronic-disease epidemic. The U.S. will also no longer be a part of the WHO's medicine prequalification process, a program that opens a host of new markets for drug producers in a cost-effective manner. Instead, U.S. pharmaceutical companies will be forced to sell their prequalified products to each country individually, putting them at risk of losing access to highly profitable multibillion dollar markets. Twenty-first-century trends — including more mobility and international travel, greater urbanization and increasing human encroachment on nature — fuel the global spread of infectious diseases, to the detriment of everyone. U.S. officials would be better positioned to protect their citizens if they joined — and perhaps even led — a discussion on how the WHO and other global health organizations, such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, can meet the world's needs. One such initiative, in which the U.S. had been a strong partner until Trump took office, was to negotiate a WHO Pandemic Agreement, which WHO member states adopted by consensus at the World Health Assembly on May 20. This historic compact, based on the principles of equity, collaboration and the reaffirmation of national sovereignty in public-health decision-making, will make the world safer from future pandemics. The U.S., bolstered by its world-class medical professionals and substantial public investment in medical research, has long exerted considerable influence on global health priorities. But withdrawing from the WHO places America on the outside, unable to shape the agency's policy agenda and reforms. When the next pandemic strikes, the U.S. will be left watching from the sidelines, as the WHO and its remaining member countries manage the global response and pick up the pieces as they see fit. Gordon Brown, a former prime minister of the United Kingdom, is U.N. Special Envoy for Global Education and Chair of Education Cannot Wait. © Project Syndicate, 2025.
Japan Times
01-06-2025
- Japan Times
Japan looking to draft fire warning guidelines
The Fire and Disaster Management Agency is planning to introduce guidelines for municipalities to issue fire warnings to restrict its use by residents when risk gets higher due to dry conditions and strong winds. Such warnings are designed to prevent fire from occurring or spreading, but there are no nationwide standards. It is common for municipalities to use factors, such as the humidity level and maximum wind speed, for the issuance. Yet in many cases, the authorities don't issue them, since these weather conditions don't meet their criteria. Given that Japan has seen more wildfires because of careless handling of fire, the agency is looking to present approaches and procedures for the issuance under its panel by summer. When a fire warning is issued, fire activities including controlled burns and bonfires are restricted. Those who violate the rules are subject to a fine of up to ¥300,000 or detention. According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, only six cities issued fire warnings in the five-year period until 2024. Even when a massive forest fire broke out in the city of Ofunato in Iwate Prefecture in February, the fire warning was not issued. On top of not meeting weather criteria, municipalities tend to be hesitant to issue a warning because limiting the use of fire could affect local agriculture and people's lives. Considering this, the agency aims to outline guidelines that municipalities can use to set wind speed and humidity standards based on local conditions as well as non-weather factors when making decisions. This way, they can issue warnings in a timely manner. The agency is also thinking about reviewing areas covered by the fire warning. Currently, it is designed to cover whole cities, villages and towns, but the agency is considering allowing municipalities to issue for specific areas within them. Efforts to inform residents and tourists will be strengthened as well. Translated by The Japan Times
