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Brazil has declared a state of emergency because of the emergence of a extremely contagious and sickening variant of the hen flu virus within the nation. The federal government speaks of a “zoosanitary emergency”, which is able to apply for at the very least 180 days. Emergency facilities are being arrange, amongst different issues, from which efforts will likely be made to forestall the unfold of the virus.
Final week, the H5N1 variant of the avian flu virus was first found in Brazil. Eight circumstances have now been reported: the virus was present in seven wild birds within the state of Espírito Santo, and one hen within the state of Rio de Janeiro turned out to be constructive.
By declaring a “zoo well being emergency”, the Brazilian authorities can rapidly mobilize assets to answer an outbreak if wanted. To stop outbreaks of H5N1, festivals and different occasions had been already suspended in March the place massive numbers of (decorative) birds could be introduced collectively.
This variant of the hen flu virus has been raging by means of Europe for a while, which is experiencing the biggest and longest hen flu wave ever. Wild birds have been dying on a big scale since October 2021 and quite a few European poultry farms have been culled.
Brazil was involved concerning the state of affairs in Europe. The nation exports practically $10 billion price of rooster meat per 12 months, making Brazil the biggest rooster exporter on the planet. A significant outbreak of the virus may subsequently hit the Brazilian financial system exhausting.
As in Europe, the Brazilian well being authorities emphasize that the avian flu virus will not be innocent to people, however that the virus has not but been broadly transmitted from animals to people. Nonetheless, there’s additionally the concern that the virus will mutate additional after which unfold extra simply to folks.
Nieuwsuur reported final weekend on the dangers of hen flu for people. How huge is the step in the direction of an an infection in people?
Hen flu and the dangers for people
