Highly pathogenic avian flu spreads in São Paulo: two more confirmed cases

The SAA (Secretary of Agriculture and Supply) of the State of São Paulo received two more positive confirmations of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in wild birds. The cases involved the Trinta-réis-de-bando, which was collected at the Petrobrás unit in São Sebastião, and the Trinta-réis-real, a bird located in a condominium in Pirituba, in the north of São Paulo.

According to the veterinarian and coordinator of Agricultural Defense, Luiz Henrique Barrochelo, surveillance will be maintained and educational work will be intensified with communication actions aimed at informing the population about the correct instructions to be followed to avoid transmission to humans.

Of the new confirmations, São Paulo has seven positive cases of the disease, all in wild birds, positive in the municipalities of Ubatuba, Caraguatatuba and Guarujá. The veterinarian emphasizes that the consumption of poultry and eggs does not transmit the disease and asked the population to follow the guidelines of the Official Veterinary Service (SVO) and not have contact with birds that may show clinical symptoms.

Agribusiness in São Paulo is responsible for the largest egg production in the country and is among the main chicken suppliers in the country. However, it is worth noting that there are no records of transmission of the disease to humans through food consumption.

Avian flu outbreak in Brazil

The map recorded 61 outbreaks of this disease in Brazil so far. None of them made it to commercial farms. Of the total, 60 occurred in wild birds. Thus, the country’s food industry remains free of contamination.

However, a domestic fowl, raised for subsistence, was found to be sick. She is a goose from the municipality of Serra, Espírito Santo. The state recorded the first avian contamination in the country and has the highest number of confirmed cases of avian flu in Brazil, 29 in all.

Can people be infected?

Human contamination occurs through contact with secretions and droppings of birds. It’s rare, but half the time it’s fatal. Human infection occurs mainly through direct contact with infected birds, therefore sick or dead birds should not be handled without the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and agricultural protection should be activated immediately in case of suspicion of disease or identification of birds dead.

SAA recommends that, if people wish to make suspicious reports, they should have access to the following channels:

– Adresses:

– Sisbravet:

– E-mail: peso@cda.sp.gov.br

Featured photo: São Paulo totals seven cases of avian flu, all in wild birds. Playback/Bloomberg/Getty Images