Brazilian agricultural authorities have identified a second outbreak of Newcastle disease in Santa Catarina state, locating the latest case at a poultry farm in Coronel Freitas. The Agriculture Ministry announced the development late on Sunday, noting that the new infection falls directly within an existing restricted area established following a prior case.
The initial outbreak of the recent cluster was reported the previous week at a turkey farm in the nearby city of Nova Itaberaba, marking the country’s first detection of the disease since 2024. Because the newly affected property in Coronel Freitas sits inside the previously drawn boundaries, officials stated that only minor adjustments to the containment zone are necessary.
Government responders have initiated the sanitary depopulation of birds on the affected property. Authorities are also conducting epidemiological investigations and enforcing broader containment protocols to curb the spread of the virus.
The virus detections carry significant economic implications for the region. Santa Catarina accounts for approximately 15 percent of poultry production in Brazil, which ranks as the world’s largest exporter of chicken meat.
International trade restrictions followed the earlier detection. China and Saudi Arabia implemented bans specifically halting poultry imports from Santa Catarina last week, while Mexico enacted a nationwide suspension of poultry imports from the country.
