Brazil declares animal health emergency after H5N1 virus found in wild birds.

Brazil has declared a state of animal health emergency for 180 days after confirming eight cases of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus in wild birds. The country's agriculture ministry has created an emergency operations centre to coordinate national actions related to avian influenza. Although H5N1 infection in wild birds does not trigger trade bans, a case of bird flu on a farm usually results in the entire flock being killed and can trigger trade restrictions from importing countries. Brazil is the world's biggest chicken meat exporter, and the government is on alert after the confirmed cases, as avian flu in wild birds has been followed by transmission to commercial flocks in some countries.