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Management Warning 33
Exotic Newcastle Disease Confirmed in the United States
Exotic Newcastle disease (END) was confirmed on October 1, 2002, in the
State of California, and has now spread beyond backyard flocks to affect
six commercial operations in California. On January 16, 2003, END was also
confirmed in a backyard flock in the State of Nevada. Clinical signs in
infected birds include respiratory, nervous, and gastrointestinal signs.
Mortality is up to 90% of exposed birds. Investigations are on-going and
all figures are pending final validation. Veterinary Services is working
rapidly to expand staff on the Task Force in the States of California and
Nevada and is exploring all options to send Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) personnel, other federal government personnel,
and is working with the States to consider additional resources to meet
the labor demands. APHIS is continuing to develop a plan for national END
surveillance. This plan will enhance the already extensive surveillance
underway in California and Nevada.
Nevada Situation (as of 5:00 p.m. PST, February 2, 2003)
END has been confirmed in a backyard flock in Las Vegas, NV. Federal
and State quarantines have been established for all of Clark County and a
portion of Nye County, NV. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has
also declared an extraordinary emergency. APHIS and the State of Nevada
have begun surveillance efforts of the backyard bird population and have
established a Task Force in Nevada.
Number of premises positive: 7
(no change from 1/31 report)
Number of contact premises: 84 (up 5
from 1/31 report)
Number of premises released: 0 (no change from
1/30 report)
Number of premises depopulated: 88
Premises
waiting to be depopulated: 3
Birds depopulated to date:
1,637
Counties with positive flocks: Clark
California Situation (as of 5:00 p.m. PST, February 2, 2003)
Officials with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)
and APHIS continue to work closely on efforts to control the END outbreak
in Southern California. USDA has instituted a federal quarantine zone that
serves as a buffer around the END-affected area in Southern California.
The department has also declared an extraordinary emergency to provide
additional resources and authorities to the eradication campaign for END
in Southern California.
Number of premises positive: 473 (up 24
from 1/31 report)
Number of contact premises: 1,024 (up 37 from
1/31 report)
Number of premises released: 28 (no change from 1/31
report)
Number of premises depopulated: 1,347
Premises
waiting to be depopulated: 178
Birds depopulated to date:
1,790,135
Counties with positive flocks: Los Angeles, Orange,
Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and
Ventura.
Operational Update
• Of the 91
premises in Nevada designated for depopulation, 96.7% have been
completed.
• Of the 1,525 premises in California designated for
depopulation, 88.3% have been completed.
• Effective January 7,
2003, APHIS imposed a federal quarantine that regulates the interstate
movement of all species of birds and poultry products from Imperial, Los
Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and
Ventura Counties, CA.
• Effective January 17, 2003, APHIS imposed a
federal quarantine that regulates the interstate movement of all species
of birds and poultry products from Clark and a portion of Nye County,
NV.
• USDA has declared an extraordinary emergency for the States
of California and Nevada. These declarations allow USDA to apply federal
authority within California and Nevada.
• Task Force personnel are
conducting a door-to-door campaign to identify affected premises.
Epidemiological investigations are ongoing. Entities that sell birds
continue to be monitored in affected areas. If a flock tests positive,
officials will quarantine the premises immediately and order the
destruction of the flock as soon as it is logistically possible.
•
Veterinary officials from Mexico are currently observing Task Force
surveillance, depopulation, and cleaning and disinfection operations in
California and Nevada.
Outreach
Activities
• Tribal Nations in the States of Arizona,
California, and Nevada have been contacted by APHIS representatives and
have been updated on the END situation. Continued outreach information is
being supplied on a continuous basis.
• Task Force information
personnel prepared and distributed PowerPoint presentations and program
documents to the Las Vegas Incident Command Post. Information personnel
also reviewed and drafted responses for two letters from the public
regarding Task Force activities.
• Task Force public information
personnel are communicating daily information on Task Force surveillance,
depopulation, and cleaning and disinfection operations to all affected
city managers in Southern California.
• Currently, Task Force
information personnel field approximately 450 calls per week from the
public. This is a twenty-fold increase from the number of calls from early
October 2002.
• Presently, the public information staff has nine
public meetings scheduled between now and March 10, 2003. This is
exclusive of meetings scheduled with bird clubs and other industry
associations.
• Task Force public information personnel are
designing a door-hanger/information envelope for use by field crews at
individual residences in affected areas.
• The Task Force has
requested the establishment of a contract with a public relations firm for
radio, direct mailing, print advertisement, and other specific minority
outreach activities.
• The Task Force's public information staff,
in cooperation with Legislative and Public Affairs in Riverdale, MD, is
preparing two new documents for distribution: The revised END brochure
(which has been updated to include new information and photographs) and
the END pest alert factsheet. Delivery is anticipated within the next
three weeks.
• On a daily basis, the Task Force information staff
provides media updates to approximately 35 media outlets in
California.
• In Area Command alone, Task Force public information
personnel handle an average of 50 media calls per
week.
Definitions
Emergency
Management Issue is for information with no impact on APHIS. Emergency
Management Notice is an ongoing incident with potential impact on
APHIS. Emergency Management Warning is an ongoing incident with almost
certain impact on APHIS. |
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