Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture confirmed a fourth Newcastle disease detection at a poultry establishment in Nova Erechim, Santa Catarina. In a parallel trade development, Uruguay recognised Brazil’s regionalisation controls, ending the last nationwide import restriction while maintaining the exclusion of the affected zone.
Fourth Newcastle disease detection reported in Santa Catarina
Brazil’s poultry sector is managing another Newcastle disease detection in Santa Catarina, even as the country secures an important recovery in international trade.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) announced that a fourth focus of Newcastle disease had been confirmed at a poultry establishment in Nova Erechim, Santa Catarina. The detection was identified during surveillance operations within an already established restriction area.
The ministry said the official veterinary service would implement the applicable emergency-response protocols, including epidemiological investigation, surveillance and disease containment.
The fourth detection follows earlier outbreaks in Nova Itaberaba, Coronel Freitas and Nova Erechim. MAPA reported that the measures prescribed for the first three affected establishments had been implemented and that those properties had already entered sanitary vacancy.
The latest detection therefore reinforces the importance of continued surveillance within the restriction zone, even after initial control actions have been completed.
What is Newcastle disease?
Newcastle disease is a highly contagious viral disease of birds caused by virulent strains of avian orthoavulavirus 1. It can affect domestic poultry and numerous wild bird species.
Depending on the viral strain and the susceptibility of the birds, clinical signs may include respiratory distress, digestive disturbance, neurological symptoms, reduced egg production and increased mortality.
In commercial poultry production, the disease can have serious consequences for animal welfare, farm operations and international trade. The detection of a virulent strain can trigger emergency veterinary measures, movement controls, culling or other interventions in accordance with national disease-control rules.
The fourth focus in Santa Catarina is therefore significant not only from an epidemiological perspective but also because of the potential implications for Brazil’s poultry-export network.
Uruguay recognises regionalisation: nationwide restriction lifted
A major positive development for Brazil’s poultry trade came on 6 November, when Uruguay decided to recognise Brazil’s sanitary regionalisation measures and resume imports of poultry products originating from Brazilian states outside the restricted area. MAPA announced the decision on 7 November.
According to the Brazilian ministry, the decision ended the final trade restriction that had applied to the entire Brazilian territory following the Newcastle disease outbreak. Brazil said it had reversed nationwide restrictions in 19 days, compared with 74 days following the 2024 Newcastle disease occurrence in Rio Grande do Sul.
The faster restoration of market access is an important signal of the role of regionalisation in protecting trade during localised animal-disease events.
Under regionalisation, importing countries assess the geographical location of the outbreak and the effectiveness of the exporting country’s control measures. Rather than automatically restricting all products from the entire country, trade restrictions can be limited to the affected area where the relevant sanitary assurances are accepted.
The restricted zone remains excluded
The lifting of Uruguay’s nationwide restriction does not mean that all Brazilian poultry products are automatically eligible for export. MAPA stated that products originating from the restricted area remain excluded from export authorisation. The area covers the municipalities of:
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Nova Itaberaba.
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Águas Frias.
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Coronel Freitas.
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Nova Erechim.
Brazil also reported that 11 countries continued to maintain restrictions on poultry imports originating from Santa Catarina. The next phase of trade negotiations will focus on securing broader recognition of regionalisation and narrowing restrictions to the area considered epidemiologically affected.
Brazil’s trade response: a faster recovery than in 2024
The comparison with the 2024 Newcastle disease event is particularly relevant. MAPA reported that it took 74 days after the 2024 occurrence in Rio Grande do Sul to reverse all nationwide trade restrictions. Following the 2026 occurrence, Brazil achieved the equivalent result in 19 days.
The ministry attributed the improvement to coordinated action between its Secretariat of Agricultural Defence, Secretariat of International Trade Relations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Santa Catarina’s agricultural development authority, CIDASC.
The response involved epidemiological investigation, containment, surveillance and the sharing of technical information with trading partners.
Brazil also highlighted the speed of action by major trading partners, noting that China revised its decision in less than 24 hours. These developments illustrate how the quality and speed of veterinary evidence can influence the duration of trade disruptions.
Commercial implications for the poultry industry
Brazil is one of the world’s most important poultry exporters. Consequently, the ability to maintain market access outside an affected region is commercially significant.
For producers and exporters, regionalisation can reduce the economic impact of localised disease events by limiting the geographic scope of trade restrictions.
For importing countries, acceptance of regionalisation depends on confidence in surveillance, traceability, containment, laboratory capacity and the exporting country’s ability to demonstrate that products originate outside the restricted area.
The fourth detection, however, shows that the epidemiological situation remains active. Continued surveillance and strict compliance with the restricted-zone requirements will be critical to sustaining the trade recovery.
Conclusion
Brazil’s fourth Newcastle disease focus in Nova Erechim demonstrates that surveillance and containment remain necessary within Santa Catarina’s restricted area. At the same time, Uruguay’s recognition of regionalisation represents a major commercial development, ending the last nationwide import restriction imposed after the 2026 outbreak.
The 19-day reversal of nationwide restrictions, compared with 74 days in 2024, highlights the growing importance of evidence-based regionalisation and coordinated veterinary diplomacy.
For Brazil’s poultry industry, the immediate challenge is to contain the remaining localised risk while converting wider international recognition of regionalisation into a faster and more predictable route to market recovery.
