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Emergency Management Warning 60:

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 19 commercial operations in California. On January 16, 2003, END was also confirmed in a backyard flock in the State of Nevada. A 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 signs. Mortality is up to 90% of exposed birds. Investigations are on-going and all figures are pending final validation. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) personnel and other federal government personnel are working with the States to consider additional resources to meet the labor demands at the Task Forces. APHIS has developed a plan for national END surveillance. This plan will enhance the already extensive surveillance underway.

* Situation Update (as of 8:00 p.m. PST, March 13, 2003)

Arizona
California
Nevada
Grand Total
Number of premises positive 1 (no change from 3/13) * 827 (up 1 from 3/13) 10 (no change from 3/13) * 838 (up 1 from 3/13)
Number of contact premises 3 (no change from 3/13) * 1,509 (up 2 from 3/13) 128 (no change from 3/13) * 1,640 (up 2 from 3/13)
Number of premises depopulated 4 * 2,170 138 * 2,312
Premises waiting to be depopulated 0 * 166 0 * 166
Birds depopulated to date 269 * 3,123,071 2,746 * 3,126,086
Counties with positive flocks La Paz Los Angeles
Riverside
Orange
San Bernardino
San Diego
Ventura
Clark  

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.

• Effective February 10, 2003, APHIS imposed a federal quarantine that regulates the interstate movement of all species of birds and poultry products from all of La Paz and Yuma Counties and a portion of Mohave County, AZ.

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared an extraordinary emergency for the States of Arizona, California, and Nevada. These declarations allow USDA to apply federal authority within Arizona, California and Nevada.

• Currently there are 19 commercial flocks in the State of California affected by END. The breakdown of the commercial premises involved is as follows: 4 premises in Riverside County (3 infected and 1 contact), 6 premises in San Diego County (6 infected), and 9 premises in San Bernardino County (9 infected).
• * Of the 2,478 premises designated for depopulation, 93.3% have been completed.

• On March 12, 2003, an official from the President's Council on Homeland Security and the Deputy Director of the Homeland Security Staff at USDA visited the South Coast and Inland Desert Incident Command Posts to meet with Area and Incident Commanders and other personnel, as well as to view Task Force operations first hand.

• On March 10, 2003, the Central California Incident Command, as well as representatives from Area Command, met with County Agriculture Commissioners from the central California region. The focus of the meeting was to explore ways that county personnel could be utilized to carry out END surveillance. Personnel from Stanislaus County are already conducting surveillance work based on a cooperative agreement with the END Task Force. It is envisioned that similar agreements will be reached, as the need arises, with other California counties in the region.

• The Central Valley Incident Command Post in Modesto, CA, is staffed and working cooperatively with approximately 15 – 20 county officials to implement efficient surveillance measures throughout the Central Valley.

• The Agriculture Multi-Agency Coordination (AgMAC) Group met March 5, 2003, to discuss the END situation, resource availability, State personnel legislation, and future personnel needs. The AgMAC is scheduled to have follow-up meetings weekly to address these issues and any additional issues as they emerge.

• Task Force personnel, in close collaboration with the California State Highway Patrol, have agreed to establish an inspection station at the commercial truck weighing station on Interstate 5 at Castaic. Personnel will perform visual inspections of commercial vehicles that contain birds or poultry. Further, California State Highway Patrol officers will remain alert for commercial poultry vehicles they see in and around quarantine zones and those officers will notify the Task Force with any information pertinent to the Task Force mission.

Outreach Activities

• In the State of California, a new Task Force direct mail campaign has begun. All residences currently under quarantine will receive a letter thanking them for their continued cooperation and reminding them to continue meeting all quarantine obligations until their premises are officially released.

• In Nevada, contact was made with the Latin Chamber of Commerce, who were very receptive and willing to distribute informational materials to local Hispanic merchants.

• Task Force personnel at the South Coast Incident Command Post have begun distributing END educational materials in the utility bills of residents who live in areas highly affected by the virus.

• An interview was taped with Dr. Collazo-Mattei to air in March on the Clark County, NV public access channel.

• Public service announcements were recorded in both English and Spanish to air on local radio stations in Nevada.

• An END handout was mailed to 350 veterinarians in Nevada.

• A full page public service announcement was placed in the Nevada Spanish-language weekly newspaper, "El Mundo."

• Surveillance operations have contacted area feed stores, pet stores, and post offices to distribute information materials in the State of Nevada.

• A community meeting was held at Von Tobel Middle School (just outside the containment area in Nevada). A PowerPoint program was presented followed by a brief question and answer period. There were 35 community members in attendance.

• A weekly media update was held at the staging area in Nevada to brief the press about a new agreement for pet stores to begin selling birds under special circumstances.

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.

  Photo of chickens behind a wire fence.
For More Information

California END Hotline 800-491-1899

To contact APHIS Veterinary Services' Emergency Program Staff, call 301-734-8073, 800-601-9327 or email emoc@usda.gov

California Department of Food and Agriculture

Nevada Department of Agriculture

Arizona Department of
Agriculture