CDFA Release - Text Format


CDFA Newcastle Info

NOTE: Information mentioned as "click here" is all available on our site on our CDFA Onsite Info Page.

REF http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/ah/pdfs/END_update_web11-18.pdf

Exotic Newcastle Disease Update
November 18, 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 (END), a severe disease of birds. Most birds with END have respiratory, nervous, and gastrointestinal signs, and up to 90% of them die (click here for Information for Bird Owners Fact Sheet). Some birds carry the disease without showing signs. 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 Newcastle Disease is not a public health threat and does not affect the safety of poultry or eggs.

A regional quarantine (click for Quarantine Notice) is in place to prevent the spread of Exotic Newcastle Disease. This quarantine affects poultry exhibitions and owners of birds (listed species) within the quarantined area (click for Quarantine map).

Bird Species under Quarantine

Chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, grouse, partridges, pheasants, quail, guinea fowl, peafowl (peacocks), doves, pigeons, swans, and ratites (emus, ostriches, rheas, etc.).

 If you own or sell any species of birds affected by the quarantine, and your birds are in the quarantined area, you are prohibited from moving your birds out of the quarantined area.

 Shows and sales of poultry within the quarantined area are only permitted if the event manager has a signed compliance agreement with the Department. Poultry that enter the quarantined area for exhibition or sale are NOT permitted to leave the area.

 Any gathering of birds increases the risk of spreading disease. It is strongly recommended that no birds of any species be moved into, within, or out of the quarantined area.

 This quarantine will remain in effect until Exotic Newcastle Disease has been eradicated from California.

 Anyone who violates the quarantine is civilly liable in an amount not to exceed $25,000.

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

 Over 308 people are working in this task force.

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

 211 of these premises contained birds infected with or exposed to END; all birds in these flocks have been or will be humanely destroyed. All affected premises are being cleaned and disinfected after the birds have been removed.

 Owners are being compensated at "fair market value" for birds that are destroyed.

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

Call 1-800-491-1899 for more information and to report suspicious cases.



Ruger Design


All artwork and graphics are the property of Ruger Design and are protected by copyright law. Any reproduction of these graphics without the written permission of Ruger Design is forbidden by law.