Tom Vilsack, Secretary of the USDA, has addressed a formal letter to the government of Brazil urging improvement in the detection and reporting of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). His letter stated, “I urge Brazil in the strongest terms to continue its progress in streamlining timely animal disease reporting.” Vilsack intends to follow up with discussions on the topic.
The question of delays in reporting BSE arises from two cases of atypical infection that were diagnosed without notification to the WOAH or to importers. China imposed a temporary ban on beef from Brazil that was subsequently lifted after confirmation that the cases were in older animals unlikely to be associated with transmission of prions to consumers. The restrictions imposed on Brazil cost exporters $20 million due to diversion of sales of 140,000 metric tons of beef to importers willing to receive the products.
The fact that Brazil has repeatedly failed to report cases of BSE raises the question of HPAI in commercial flocks. It is known that seven nations surrounding Brazil have reported H5N1 infection in either free-living birds, backyard flocks or on commercial farms. To date, Brazil has only acknowledged the presence of H5N1 virus in migratory birds.