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.
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