Brazil Declares Zoosanitary Emergency in Santa Catarina After Newcastle Disease Outbreak

The Brazilian federal government has declared a 60-day zoosanitary emergency in response to an outbreak of Newcastle disease detected at a commercial poultry establishment in Nova Itaberaba, Santa Catarina. This announcement came after the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock confirmed the disease on October 19, 2026, following its initial identification a day earlier. The emergency applies to four municipalities in Santa Catarina: Nova Itaberaba, Águas Frias, Coronel Freitas, and Nova Erechim.

The affected poultry establishment has been closed, and all bird movements in the area have been suspended by the Official Veterinary Service of Santa Catarina. Control, containment, and eradication efforts will follow the protocols set out in the existing Contingency Plan for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease in Brazil. Authorities have also notified the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and Brazil's international trade partners to ensure transparency in sanitary conditions.

Newcastle disease, caused by a virulent strain of avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 (APMV-1), affects both domestic and wild birds and poses a significant threat to the poultry industry. The outbreak was detected during a routine epidemiological investigation by Santa Catarina's veterinary services and confirmed by laboratory tests conducted by the Federal Laboratory for Agricultural Defense in São Paulo.

The government’s prompt measures follow the recent lifting of a 26-year embargo by China, which had restricted Brazilian poultry imports. While the Newcastle disease outbreak has not directly caused new export restrictions, it highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in Brazil's poultry sector that could influence future trade relations. The embargo related to Rio Grande do Sul persists due to earlier health issues, but other regions' meatpackers have been allowed to export to China since January 2026.

The zoosanitary emergency declaration and the swift response underscore Brazil’s commitment to managing infectious animal diseases and safeguarding both domestic poultry health and international trade confidence.