CDFA Newcastle Info

REF http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/ah/pdfs/END_update_web11-11.pdf

Exotic Newcastle Disease Update
November 11, 2002

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are conducting an eradication campaign for exotic Newcastle disease (ND), a severe disease of birds. Birds with exotic ND have respiratory, nervous, and gastrointestinal signs, and up to 90% of them die. The disease was confirmed in California on October 1, 2002, and is restricted to backyard poultry in Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties.

Commercial poultry are not involved in this outbreak. Exotic ND does not pose a threat to public health and does not affect the safety of poultry and egg products.


 Over 284 people are assigned to this task force.


 Officials are going door-to-door to find sick birds in affected areas and tracing birds into and out of infected flocks.


 432 backyard premises have been quarantined (i.e., birds are not allowed to leave these premises); investigations are ongoing.


 131 of these premises contained birds infected with or exposed to exotic ND; all birds in these flocks have been or will be euthanatized. All affected premises are being cleaned and disinfected after the birds have been removed.


 Owners are being fairly compensated for euthanatized birds.


 Owners will be allowed to restock birds after there is no risk of them being reinfected with exotic ND.


 Swap meets that sell birds in the affected areas are being checked for infected birds.


 The movement and gathering of birds should be minimized.

A fact sheet about exotic ND, the signs, how it spreads, and historical information is available (click here to go to the fact sheet) NOTE: SEE REF ABOVE. A hotline has been established to assist with questions and to report suspicious cases: 1-800-491-1899.

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