Experts from Brazil and Europe discuss migration, crisis management and experiences from those who have already faced the disease

The Foundation for the Support of Poultry Science and Technology, FACTA, will promote a broad debate on the international scenario and ongoing research related to Avian Influenza in a symposium to be held during the International Animal Protein Show, SIAVS, scheduled from August 6 to 8 at the Anhembi District in São Paulo.

A traditional part of the SIAVS program, the FACTA Symposium will be divided into two segments in this edition. In the first segment, discussions will focus on the role of migratory birds and marine mammals in the eco epidemiology of the disease, the main migration routes in South America, as well as the origins and containment of cases in the region. Experts such as Jansen de Araújo from the University of São Paulo, Priscilla Prudente do Amaral from ICMBio and Mário Sérgio Assayag from Aviagen will take part in the panel, which will be moderated by Federal Agricultural Tax Auditor Taís Oltramari Barnasque from SISA.

In the second segment, Daniela de Queiroz Baptista, Head of the Surveillance Plans Management Division at Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, and researcher Sjaak de Wit from Utrecht University in the Netherlands will present different experiences in addressing the disease. The discussions will range from lessons learned by Brazil regarding cases in wild and backyard birds to the current debate surrounding the development of vaccines for the disease. The session will be moderated by journalist Juliana Azevedo from Canal Rural.

“We are in a context in which Avian Influenza has ceased to be a topic limited to prevention and has become part of the routine of global poultry production. As the only major producing country that remains free of cases in commercial flocks, Brazil will need to constantly assess its successes and shortcomings to further strengthen not only its biosecurity, but also its agility in responding to a potential outbreak,” says Ariel Mendes, coordinator of the symposium and President of FACTA.

Registration for the SIAVS lecture program is now open. Promotional rates and more information are available at www.siavs.com.br .