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Associated Press
16-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Brazil confirms first bird flu outbreak in commercial poultry
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock on Friday confirmed the country's first bird flu outbreak in a 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. ____ Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at
Reuters
15-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Brazil's finance minister signals upcoming fiscal measures, rules out 'Bolsa Familia' hike
BRASILIA, May 15 (Reuters) - Brazil's Finance Minister said on Thursday that the government is preparing measures to help meet this year's fiscal target, and denied any plans to increase monthly payments under the "Bolsa Familia" cash transfer program for low-income families. Speaking to reporters in Brasilia, Fernando Haddad said the measures under consideration are targeted, not part of a broader package, and will be discussed with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva next week. "It is not even possible to call it a package, because they are specific measures, none of them are of large-scale," Haddad said. "They are aimed exclusively at meeting the fiscal target." The government is expected to release on May 22 its first budget report of the year, tracking revenues and expenditures. The report must outline any necessary measures to meet the fiscal target of eliminating the primary deficit this year, if current projections fall short of that goal. Haddad also said there is no plan within the government to raise payments of the "Bolsa Familia" benefit, echoing remarks made by Social Developing Minister Wellington Dias late on Wednesday. Local magazine Veja reported on Wednesday that the Social Development Ministry was readying a proposal to increase monthly the monthly payments to 700 reais ($124.17) next year, up from the current 600 reais. The outlet reaffirmed the report on Thursday. The Brazilian real briefly narrowed losses against the U.S. dollar in spot trading during Haddad's remarks, but resumed a negative path right after, weakening over 1% to about 5.69 per greenback. Haddad also noted that a planned measure to support app-based delivery workers is still under development and does not yet have a final design.
