Brazil Detects Newcastle Disease at Santa Catarina Turkey Farm: Sanitary Measures Cover 133 Farms, Export Impact Under Review
Brasília — Brazil's Agriculture Minister André de Paula announced on October 19 that a case of Newcastle disease had been detected at a turkey farm in the southern state of Santa Catarina, with sanitary measures put in place covering 133 farms in the surrounding region and all relevant information to be shared with Brazil's main trading partners.
Newcastle disease is a highly contagious viral disease affecting birds. Brazil is the world's largest chicken meat exporter, and Santa Catarina accounts for about 15 percent of Brazilian poultry production, making the scope of the response closely watched by markets. Brazil's Acting Secretary for Agricultural Trade, Rafael Requiao, said it was too early to provide concrete information on possible import suspensions, adding that detailed reports were being prepared.
Meat lobby group ABPA told Reuters that Brazil's trade protocol with China provides for the suspension of poultry exports following a Newcastle disease outbreak, triggering an 'auto-embargo' before Chinese authorities decide whether restrictions should apply to the entire state or to a limited area around the affected farm. In 2024, China halted imports from Rio Grande do Sul after a Newcastle case was confirmed at a commercial farm there; that ban was lifted earlier this year.
Brazilian officials had not released culling or lockdown details as of publication, and no trading partner had formally announced new import restrictions. The actual impact on Brazil's poultry exports will depend on containment progress and decisions by importing countries.
Source: Compiled from Reuters reporting from Brasília and São Paulo, October 19, 2026.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 资料图：家禽养殖场内的肉鸡，Umar2z 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0（Wikimedia Commons）
