Brazil confirms first bird flu outbreak in commercial poultry
The virus was found at a facility in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, the ministry said in a statement. It added it has begun implementing a contingency plan 'not only to eliminate the disease but also to maintain the sector's productive capacity, ensuring supply and, consequently, food security for the population.'
The ministry added that it has also notified the World Organization for Animal Health, the Ministries of Health and the Environment and Brazil's trade partners.
Agriculture and Livestock minister Carlos Fávaro said Friday that China has halted poultry imports from Brazil for 60 days, according to local media.
The ministry also said the disease is not transmitted through the consumption of poultry meat or eggs.
'The risk of human infection by the avian flu virus is low and occurs mostly among handlers or professionals who have close contact with infected birds (alive or dead),' the ministry said.
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Forbes
03-07-2025
- Forbes
This Brazilian Startup Is Turning A Population Of 211 Million Into A Cannabis Data Goldmine
Toninho Corrêa While much of the world watches Germany and the U.S. inch forward on cannabis reform, Brazil has quietly become home to a fast-growing and highly structured medical cannabis market. And helping drive that transformation is a mobile app (not a clinic, cultivator or multinational) that's redefining patient access in one of the world's most complex regulatory environments. It's called Blis, and if you haven't heard of it yet, you're not alone. Built entirely in Brazil by a team of local developers and patients, the platform has already reached more than 300,000 users, generates R$2 million (about $363,000) in monthly revenue and holds what may be the largest real-world cannabis patient database in Latin America. With a population of more than 211 million, Brazil is Latin America's largest potential market for medical cannabis, but also one of the most complex to navigate. Under ANVISA's RDC 660 and RDC 327, cannabis prescriptions are legal, but only for imported, pharmaceutical-grade products, and only with doctor supervision. Despite those constraints, analysts project Brazil's medical cannabis sector could exceed $4.4 billion by 2032, driven by rising demand, decreasing stigma and a worsening mental health crisis. Across the region, Latin America's legal cannabis market is expected to reach $3.75 billion by 2028, with Brazil accounting for a significant share, especially if CBD flower is reauthorized for import in the coming months, opening an entirely new vertical for digital platforms. Born From Patients, Built For Brazil Blis didn't begin in a boardroom; it started with a group of Brazilian patients, frustrated by the painful logistics of getting medical cannabis legally. 'We faced enormous difficulties,' said CEO Toninho Corrêa. 'From the medical consultation to the import bureaucracy.' The existing system was slow, scattered and intimidating. So they built something new: an app approved by both Apple and Google that allows full legal access to cannabis treatment in Brazil, from doctor consultation to home delivery, in just a few taps. According to Corrêa, the platform has reduced access time by 160x, collapsing what used to take weeks into a seamless digital experience. And as cannabis adoption in Brazil shifts from critical conditions like Parkinson's and epilepsy toward broader wellness use (for sleep, anxiety, stress and focus), demand is accelerating. 'In practice, we are creating an entirely new market in Brazil for this type of alternative therapy,' he said. Rather than adapt a foreign model, Blis was built locally from the ground up, with Brazilian regulations, payment systems and patient behavior in mind. 'Importing a foreign model wouldn't work,' Corrêa said. 'We needed a solution tailored to the country's regulatory and cultural context.' That local-first approach has now positioned Blis as a scalable model for the rest of Latin America — and beyond. Numbers That Speak For Themselves In under a year, Blis has surpassed 300,000 downloads and now reaches patients in more than 1,800 cities and towns across Brazil, including many rural areas where medical support is limited or nonexistent. According to the company, over 60% of users who complete a consultation go on to purchase a product. Furthermore, the platform boasts a 42% repurchase rate, signaling strong adherence to treatment plans. Blis App The average order value is around R$1,000 (roughly $182) and the top-selling products are gummies and oils focused on sleep, anxiety and focus, an indicator of Brazil's shifting relationship with cannabis: less taboo, more therapeutic. 'Gummies grew faster than we expected,' Corrêa said, noting their popularity among women aged 30 to 45, who favor discreet, precisely dosed formats. Adoption is also rising among patients over 60, especially for sleep support and chronic pain relief; a demographic often overlooked in global cannabis marketing. 'We're not just seeing growth in the typical early adopter audience. This is mainstream,' he added. A Massive Cannabis Patient Dataset You've Probably Never Heard Of Beyond product sales, Blis is quietly building something even more valuable: data. With over 25,000 real-world patient records and growing, the platform now manages what it claims is one of the largest clinical cannabis databases in Latin America, a resource that could shape treatment standards, support clinical trials and inform regulatory strategy across the region. The company says all data collection follows strict LGPD standards and informed consent protocols. The top three conditions being treated on the platform are insomnia, anxiety and stress, a mental health trifecta that has surged across Brazil in the wake of COVID-19 and ongoing economic instability. Corrêa says the company is now exploring partnerships with researchers and institutions to translate this data into high-impact clinical insights. 'This is a living ecosystem. We're just getting started.' Blis says it handles patient data in full compliance with Brazil's General Data Protection Law (LGPD), using anonymization protocols for any internal studies or aggregated analysis. 'Only authorized professionals have access to patient records, with full traceability and consent controls,' Corrêa noted. While no personal data is currently shared with third parties, Blis may partner with research institutions in the future — but only under strict ethical review and legal safeguards. 'Patients are always informed about how their data is used and can revoke consent at any time,' Corrêa said. Corrêa also noted a sharp rise in interest for gummies, particularly among women and older patients, who value simplicity, discretion and routine. 'We were surprised by how fast that segment matured,' he said. It's a signal that, when designed well, medical cannabis can meet people where they are, without intimidation or stigma. A Market Shaped By Regulation — But Led By Patients From the outside, Brazil's medical cannabis landscape can look impenetrable. But insiders like Corrêa argue that perception no longer matches reality. 'Many still think cannabis is illegal or only accessible in very severe cases,' he said. 'But ANVISA's RDCs 660 and 327 allow legal access with a prescription. The real issue isn't regulation; it's public awareness and access.' In that gap, Blis has positioned itself as both a healthcare facilitator and an information bridge. The company has invested heavily in educational outreach, working with media outlets, conservative audiences and even older patient groups to dispel misconceptions and normalize treatment. 'We made a point of starting Blis' communication through more traditional channels,' Corrêa said. 'That helped us build credibility in places where cannabis was still taboo.' A potential turning point looms: the reauthorization of CBD flower imports, which ANVISA is reportedly considering in the coming weeks. If approved, it would open a new therapeutic category for platforms like Blis, allowing faster-acting, inhalable options for patients with chronic pain, advanced conditions or prior experience with cannabis. 'We're ready,' Corrêa said. 'This would expand our product portfolio and create new experiences for patients who need different kinds of relief.' From Patient App To Platform Play Blis may have started as a fix for a broken access system, but it's now eyeing a far larger opportunity. The company says it hit breakeven within six months, now counts over 25,000 active patients and projects a valuation of over $100 million by year's end, up from roughly $60 million today. The roadmap ahead includes expanding to at least one Latin American market by 2025, launching new technology and service channels, and publishing the company's first clinical data report based on its growing patient base. 'We're building toward a R$1 billion valuation by 2027,' Corrêa said, 'but more importantly, we're building trust.' To reach that next phase, Blis is currently in conversations with investors, strategic partners and scientific collaborators — both in Brazil and internationally. Corrêa says he's open to capital, but only when it aligns with the company's mission. 'What we're looking for is more than money. It's regulatory expertise, clinical insight and the ability to scale responsibly.' Latin America Is Watching Although Blis was built specifically for Brazil's regulatory maze, its model, combining technology, medical guidance and legally compliant distribution, could travel well. 'Blis was built to scale,' Corrêa said. 'Countries like Colombia, Argentina and Mexico are already advancing cannabis regulations, and we see a strong fit for digital platforms that educate and reduce stigma.' Each country brings its own challenges, but the demand patterns — anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain — are strikingly similar across Latin America. Corrêa believes Brazil's unique mix of tight regulations and huge unmet demand has forced innovation in a way that could serve as a template for emerging markets. 'Brazil may lag in public perception, but we lead in digital access,' he said. Compared to countries like Colombia, which has prioritized cultivation, or Mexico, where legal ambiguity continues to stall implementation, Brazil's patient-first approach, anchored in ANVISA oversight and doctor supervision, may prove more scalable in the long term. And while most of the international cannabis spotlight remains focused on North America and Europe, Corrêa is confident: 'The next wave of cannabis innovation may not come from where people expect.' Redefining Wellness, One Click At A Time For Corrêa, cannabis is just the beginning. 'Blis is not just a cannabis company: it's a new model of wellness for Latin America,' he said. The platform's long-term vision includes expanding into personalized protocols, new therapeutic categories, and broader public health integration, all grounded in real-world data and patient experience. As mental health needs grow and healthcare systems strain under demand, platforms like Blis are positioning themselves not just as dispensers of product, but as scalable infrastructure for care. 'The debate is no longer led by regulators,' Corrêa said. 'It's led by patients.' Blis may not have brand recognition in North America — yet — but its trajectory offers a glimpse of what cannabis innovation can look like when it's rooted in need, built with purpose, and shaped by the realities of the people it serves.
Medscape
03-07-2025
- Medscape
Physicians Are Switching Gears — Here's Why
Layla Almeida, MD, an infectious disease specialist based in Rio de Janeiro, followed a traditional path in medicine. Motivated by a keen sense of vocation, she earned her medical degree, specialized in infectious diseases, and set her sights on a career in healthcare management. However, over time, the passion that had driven her once gave way to frustration. According to her, when they enter college, students know that, in addition to specialties, there are different paths within medicine: Working on-call, working in a clinic, or working as a surgeon. 'But I was never encouraged to think about my career based on who I am, my psychological profile, or my life expectations,' she said. The growing competitiveness of the job market is pushing many professionals to reconsider their career paths. Over the past 15 years, the number of actively employed professionals has doubled. According to a survey by the Federal Council of Medicine, there were approximately 304,000 doctors in Brazil in 2010. By 2024, this number had increased to over 575,000. This sharp increase, driven by a surge in the number of medical graduates and the rapid expansion of new medical schools, often in regions with limited infrastructure, has led to the saturation of certain specialties and geographic areas. In the past, it was sufficient to choose a specialty with strong employability. However, professionals are increasingly required to look inward and reflect on their motivations, interests, and skills to strategically position themselves in a rapidly evolving job market. Almeida is currently undergoing such a transition. She is preparing to work as a strategic consultant for healthcare companies and digital platforms aimed at medical students and professionals seeking greater clarity in their careers and helping them align their paths with their expectations, emotional profiles, and financial goals. Career uncertainty is a common experience driven by dissatisfaction, burnout, or a desire for growth. In medicine, a field that demands considerable time and financial investment, reimagining one's career can feel daunting, often leaving professionals feeling stuck. The encouraging news is that tools and structured methods are now available to support the process of reflection and reinvention. Rethink In the current context, rethinking a medical career is no longer a luxury but a necessary skill. An excess of professionals, modern technologies, an aging population, and advancements in areas such as mental health and personalized medicine require doctors to be flexible, have a vision for the future, and have the courage to change. According to Lina Nakata, PhD, a professor at the Fundação Instituto de Administração Business School in São Paulo and an expert in leadership and people management, medicine is often chosen not only for its vocational appeal and financial prospects but also because of a combination of factors. 'There is a mix of influences: Vocation, employability, status, income, and family expectations,' she said. Nakata noted that choosing a career in medicine early on, driven by this blend of motivation, can lead to misalignment later in life. 'Often, people who choose medicine may feel trapped in a professional identity built 10 or 20 years ago. However, today, careers last 50 or even 60 years, which means rethinking the path over time,' she said. This discomfort does not necessarily imply abandoning medicine. Sometimes, small adjustments, such as switching subspecialties, finding a more balanced schedule, or working in a side job, can have a significant impact. The first step is to understand the cause of discomfort. For many professionals, medicine is not just a profession; it is an identity. However, as Nataka noted, this identity can be more diverse than traditionally imagined, encompassing roles such as professor, manager, researcher, and communicator. Recognizing this range is essential for addressing dissatisfaction, which, as in clinical practice, requires a good diagnosis, followed by planning and consistent actions. Self-Assessment Nataka recommends professionals reflect deeply on their career identity and recognize that any career transition takes time and can be a difficult and profound process. This journey often involves reshaping one's self-perception and visualizing a new version of oneself in the future. One tip for this is to apply SWOT analysis — an exercise for identifying one's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This methodology can help not only those who want to change but also those who want to evolve within an already established path. With this analysis, it is possible to consider the following aspects: Do you provide good services and have a good patient base? Are you someone who is willing to work at any time of the day, or do you feel better with a more stable routine? Do you enjoy interacting with patients? What makes you happy? What brings you the most fulfillment? What aspects of your work make you feel dissatisfied? What stresses you and makes you think about quitting your job? What other needs do you have outside of work? Is it possible to balance one's personal life and profession? It is equally important to consider external factors when reassessing a career. What are the current market dynamics? How is artificial intelligence reshaping this field? What are the most pressing healthcare demands today? Which of these shifts represent opportunities, and which could threaten your professional future? Nataka highlighted the Japanese concept of ikigai — the intersection of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. The idea was highlighted by filmmakers Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, creators of the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once , during a standout talk at SXSW 2024. According to Nataka, ikigai offers a clear and focused way to realign one's career without discarding what has already been built. 'There are several possibilities; it is up to the person to identify where they can fit in. Specializations are increasingly niches that create differences. It is not a rupture; you take everything you have built with you,' she said. Action Steps Following self-assessment, the next, and often the most challenging, phase is to draw up a concrete action plan. 'You need to gain both formal and informal qualifications — through courses, mentoring, or hands-on experiences — and expand your professional network,' Nataka said. 'The importance of people is not always remembered. Building a good network and identifying allies who provide support is essential to opening new paths.' Tools for creating a professional action plan have been inspired by design thinking approaches and the Silicon Valley Innovation Ecosystem. In 2006, Stanford professors Bill Burnett and Dave Evans launched the Design Your Life course to help students plan their careers with greater purpose and creativity. This initiative led to the bestselling book Designing Your Life , which is now widely used by those seeking to align their careers with personal fulfillment. The authors emphasized that self-knowledge and practical experimentation are key to successfully redesigning one's professional life. Designing Your Life In Designing Your Life , the authors outline seven key steps to help individuals reassess their professional path and explore new directions. 1. Make Projections Adopt a trial-and-error approach. Ask questions, experiment, and ask for help. Understanding that mistakes are a part of the process. The important thing is to plan to learn, not to get it right the first time. 2. Assess Your Present Use a 'life dashboard' to rate key areas — health, work, leisure, and relationships — on a scale from 1 to 4. Visualizing imbalances can help understand what needs more attention. 3. Define Your Compass Write two short essays (up to 250 words): One about your vision of life and the other about your vision of work. When comparing the two texts, identify alignments and conflicts. 4. Record Your Good Moments For 3 weeks, note what energizes or drains you during your daily activities. Reflect on patterns and detail each experience using the Activities, Environments, Interactions, Objects, and Users technique. 5. Outline Three Possible Futures Create three versions of your professional life over the next 5 years: Life 1: Continuation of the current career Life 2: If this career were to disappear tomorrow Life 3: If money and reputation are not an issue Evaluate each option for its feasibility, available resources, and how well it aligns with your values. 6. Plan for New Possibilities Talk to people who already work in the desired field, take courses, attend conferences, and try being a 'shadow' for a day, accompanying a professional. This is a practical way to validate or discard ideas before changing directions. 7. Narrow Down Your Options and Make Decisions With the information in hand, organize alternatives, eliminate those that make less sense, and accept the anxiety of choosing. Rather than waiting for absolute certainty, action is required. As the authors of Design Your Life noted, there is no such thing as a perfect decision: 'Only by living will you know if you are on the right path.'
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Yahoo
A group of Brazilian women battling cancer find new hope thanks to Va'a canoeing
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — When breast cancer turned her life upside down, Anna Lucia Amorim, a 63-year-old Brazilian from Rio de Janeiro state, fell into a deep depression sometimes struggling to get out of bed. But everything changed, she said, after she started practicing Va'a canoeing in Niteroi, a city facing Rio across Guanabara Bay, with other women who have battled cancer or were undergoing treatment. 'Every time you put the paddle in the water, it's like a new life,' she told The Associated Press on Thursday. 'When you are there, you forget everything. You only see the sea and the sky.' Amorim is part of Va'a Roses, a group of cancer patients and survivors between the ages of 52 and 70 who partake in local and national competitions of Va'a canoeing. Originating in the Pacific region, Va'a canoes — which traditionally have outriggers and can be single or double-hull — are now popular worldwide. In Niteroi, the Va'a Roses train twice weekly just after 7 a.m., departing from the sheltered Charitas Beach surrounded by harbors and sloping mountains, from which one can spot the famed Christ the Redeemer statue. Guanabara Bay has a reputation for being polluted by garbage and sewage, but members of the Va'a Roses say they regularly see turtles, rays and other fish — even dolphins. 'You wouldn't think that Guanabara Bay has so much life,' said Flavia Bichara, a 52-year-old lawyer who is currently undergoing chemotherapy for lung cancer. She said the hope of spotting a turtle and watching the sun rise gives her ample motivation to get out of bed early. 'The sunrise, for us, symbolizes coming back to life," she said. Polynesian canoeing and water sports in general have become increasingly popular in Niteroi over the last few years, said Isabel Swan, the municipality's deputy mayor who has an Olympic bronze medal in sailing. The number of Polynesian canoeing clubs in the area has jumped from five to around 40 in the last decade. 'This boom occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic, because people can practice water sports while complying with social distancing rules,' she said. In August, Niteroi will host the Va'a long distance world championship in which around a thousand athletes from 30 countries will compete. And alongside Rio, the city is a candidate to host the 2031 Pan American Games. Estella Tourl, 68, was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago. As well as the stunning setting, she says she loves the social aspect of the activity. 'We're in nature, we exercise and we talk. Afterward everyone sits together, we have coffee and laugh. It's stimulating – we want to live,' Tourl said.
