Exotic Newcastle Disease
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Emergency Management Warning 37:

Exotic Newcastle Disease Confirmed in the United States

All information in the following Notice marked with an asterisk (*) identifies changes since the last Notice was sent out.

Exotic Newcastle disease (END) was confirmed on October 1, 2002, in the State of California, and has now spread beyond backyard flocks to affect seven commercial operations in California. On January 16, 2003, END was also confirmed in a backyard flock in the State of Nevada. An additional backyard flock was confirmed with END on February 4, 2003, in the State of Arizona. Clinical signs in infected birds include respiratory, nervous, and gastrointestinal sings. 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 Forces in the States of Arizona, 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 Arizona, California, and Nevada.

* Arizona Situation (as of 5:00 p.m. PST, February 6, 2003)

END has been confirmed in a backyard flock in La Paz County, AZ. APHIS is currently developing a federal quarantine for the affected area in Arizona. APHIS and the State of Arizona have begun surveillance efforts of the backyard bird population and have established a Task Force in Arizona.

Number of premises positive: 1 (no change from 2/6 report)

Number of contact premises: 3 (no change from 2/6 report)

Number of premises released: 0 (no change from 2/6 report)

Number of premises depopulated: 1

Premises waiting to be depopulated: 3

Birds depopulated to date: 50

Counties with positive flocks: La Paz

* Nevada Situation (as of 5:00 p.m. PST, February 6, 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 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: 8 (up 1 from 2/6 report)

* Number of contact premises: 89 (down 1 from 2/6 report)

Number of premises released: 0 (no change from 2/6 report)

Number of premises depopulated: 96

Premises waiting to be depopulated: 1

Birds depopulated to date: 1,670

Counties with positive flocks: Clark

* California Situation (as of 5:00 p.m. PST, February 6, 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: 515 (up 13 from 2/6 report)

* Number of contact premises: 1,063 (up 8 from 2/6 report)

* Number of premises released: 9 (down 2 from 2/6 report)
* Number of premises depopulated: 1,430

* Premises waiting to be depopulated: 157

* Birds depopulated to date: 1,890,327

Counties with positive flocks: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura.

Operational Update

* 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.

* The U.S. Department of Agriculture (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.

* * Of the 1,688 premises designated for depopulation, 90.5% have been completed.

* Once affected premises are identified and birds humanely depopulated, affected areas are being thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Landfills, composting, and rendering are being used for safe disposal of affected birds and materials.

* 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.

* APHIS is developing a plan for national END surveillance. This plan will enhance the already extensive surveillance underway in California and Nevada. Currently, an ICP is being established in Arizona.

Outreach Activities

* Task Force information personnel coordinated a joint press release with an Indian Tribe to announce the newly designated infected backyard premises in Arizona. Since the announcement earlier this week, the information staff has received over 20 media calls related to the newly designated infected premises in the State.

* This week, Task Force information personnel edited a news article related to END for the Colorado veterinary publication.

* Presently, the public information staff has nine public meetings scheduled between now and March 10th. This is exclusive of meetings scheduled with bird clubs and other industry associations.

* Task Force public information personnel have reviewed all publications currently used by field crews and are in the process of revising these documents to make them more reader-friendly. Task Force information personnel are designing and preparing for distribution a door-hanger/information envelope for use by field crews at individual residences in affected areas.

* PowerPoint presentations designed to help inform the public about END have been revised and distributed to all ICP's.

* On a daily basis, Task Force public information personnel are communicating information concerning 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. On average, approximately 300 of these calls require follow-up action by the ICP's. In Area Command alone, Task Force public information personnel handle an average of 50 media calls per week.

* The Task Force's public information staff, in cooperation with LPA in Riverdale, 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 fact sheet. Delivery is anticipated within the next three weeks.

* The Task Force information staff provides daily updates to approximately 35 media outlets in California.

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