FAO hosts global bird flu meeting in Brazil

BRAZIL – United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has selected Brazil to host an international conference on bird flu prevention and control, despite the country confirming its first outbreak in May at a chicken breeder farm.

The highly contagious virus has swept across continents, forcing the culling of hundreds of millions of birds and spreading to dairy cows, cats, and humans.

Jorge Meza, FAO’s representative in Brazil, said on Friday that the country’s biosecurity measures position it to guide discussions at the meeting.

He added that Brazil could strengthen global systems through regional coordination, including the exchange of information, training initiatives, and sharing of effective practices.

According to FAO, addressing the economic and food security consequences of bird flu requires joint efforts and steady funding from both governments and private operators.

The agency emphasized in a statement that no single nation or industry can manage the threat in isolation.

Brazil is a major poultry exporter, shipping chicken to around 150 countries, but the outbreak earlier this year triggered trade bans from multiple markets.

While some restrictions were eased after the outbreak was brought under control in June, China, Brazil’s largest customer, has not reopened its market.

Unlike Europe and the United States, where large commercial farms have faced severe outbreaks, Brazil has so far prevented widespread infections among its biggest producers.

However, smaller poultry and egg farms remain a concern, as they employ different production systems and manage millions of animals outside the more tightly controlled commercial sector.

Meza noted that raising cage-free and free-range chickens increases the chances of exposure to wild birds carrying the virus.

FAO livestock expert Andres Gonzalez said tracking the locations of both large and small farms is key to reducing risks.

He explained that mapping farms allows authorities to deliver guidance to producers ahead of outbreaks and to act quickly with containment measures if cases emerge.

The discussions in Brazil are expected to focus on building preparedness strategies and maintaining trade stability in the face of ongoing bird flu threats.

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