Evolutionary Insights and Detection of H5N1 2.3.4.4b in Wildlife in Brazil.

The complete hemagglutinin (HA) genome sequence generated in this study was aligned with representative avian influenza virus (AIV) H5N1 sequences from Brazil and Colombia retrieved from the GenBank database, including the first reported South American H5N1 sequence. Phylogenetic and temporal analyses confirmed the placement of the sequence within clade 2.3.4.4b. To ensure transparency, reproducibility, and availability for future comparative, evolutionary, and epidemiological studies, the assembled sequence and its associated metadata (host species, sampling location, and collection date) were deposited in a public sequence repository.