MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Second case of bird flu confirmed at Brasilia's Zoo

The report from a dead emu found on June 11 was released Monday

Brazilian authorities confirmed Monday a case of avian flu in an Australian emu found dead at the Brasilia Zoo. The infected bird's enclosure was sanitized to prevent the disease from further spreading, and biosecurity measures were adopted while the facility remains closed to the public until further notice.

 It was the second detection of the malady in the Federal District this year, following an earlier case in an irerê (local wild duck), not belonging to the Zoo, although it was found lifeless there. The Federal District's Veterinary Service is intensifying inspections in high-risk areas to prevent the spread of the virus.

Avian influenza, highly contagious among birds, poses a low risk to humans, except for those in direct contact with infected birds. Poultry and eggs remain safe for consumption, and Brazil's health status with the World Organization for Animal Health is unaffected, as the cases involve non-commercial birds, it was explained.

The report confirming the bird's cause of death was released Monday from a sample collected on June 11 and analyzed by the Federal Agricultural Defense Laboratory (LFDA) in Campinas (São Paulo). The result was then relayed to the Federal District's Department of Agriculture, Supply and Rural Development (Seagri-DF) by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa).

Inspections are being prioritized on properties near commercial farms, lakes, dams, and parks, all deemed strategic for the entry and eventual spread of the virus through wild birds.

Among the main symptoms in birds are difficulty breathing, nasal or eye discharge, sneezing, motor incoordination, torticollis, diarrhea, and high mortality.

All suspicions of avian influenza, which include respiratory or neurological signs or high and sudden mortality in birds, must be reported immediately to the proper authorities for adequate handling.