Return of migratory birds alerts authorities to bird flu; see routes and species that come to Brazil

Brazil is once again receiving birds that migrate to southern countries during the spring, looking for favorable weather conditions for breeding and feeding. Migration is important in ecosystems, connecting different regions of the world and maintaining the survival of other generations. But, on the journey, birds can become contaminated and spread diseases. Almost all cases of bird flu in Brazil so far have appeared in migratory species. The outbreaks are concentrated on the coast, where these birds usually stop. The authorities' biggest concern is to prevent contamination from reaching farms and affecting the consumption of chickens and eggs. Five billion birds migrate annually across the world. They play an important role in ecosystems, connecting different regions and maintaining the survival of other generations. But, during these long journeys, some of these birds become hosts and distributors of diseases such as the H5N1 virus, which causes bird flu. This year, Brazil had ...