Record losses from bird flu
Between the beginning of October and February 3, the World Organization for Animal Health registered more than 100 million poultry killed or culled due to avian influenza. This figure was more than triple the cases that were registered in the same period of the previous season, which, likewise, had already closed with record losses due to the disease.
One of the biggest problems was seen in laying hens, which were among the most affected. This had a direct impact on the price of basic foods and, mainly, on the price of eggs. In the United States, for example, the value of this product increased by 70% in January in year-on-year terms, the steepest rise in four decades.
The truth is that the increase in the price of eggs is already beginning to be felt in the region. One case is Brazil that, although it has not yet reported any infected specimen of avian flu, the proximity to Uruguay put it on alert. And this is already reflected in the prices of the world’s largest chicken exporter.
What can happen in Uruguay?
Although hardly one case has been reported in the country and the health emergency already in force throughout the territory, the consequences of an outbreak of bird flu can also be serious at an economic and productive level, especially in exports from the poultry sector.
Faced with the possible impact of controlled slaughter in pens and farms, the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) evaluates the possibility of assisting producers eventually affected through a compensation fund.
The effect on agriculture would also be reflected in the final consumer prices, which are already registering increases due to the context of drought that the country is going through. Firstly in the eggs, as it happened in the north and it happens in Brazil; but also in other products of the poultry chain.
The region is at a seasonal peak and the risk of contagion of avian influenza will continue until May, due to the behavior of migratory birds.
Source: Ambito
