NEWCASTLE DISEASE, GAME BIRDS, POULTRY - USA (CA)(04)
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Date: 15 Jan 2003
From: Thomas E Walton <thomas.e.walton@usda.gov> and Doug Metcalf 
<dmetcalf@boah.state.is.us>
Source: Emergency Management Warning 19 (APHIS) [edited]


Officials with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and 
the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) continue to work 
closely on efforts to control the exotic Newcastle disease (END) outbreak 
in Southern California. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has 
instituted a 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.

The disease was confirmed on 1 Oct 2002 and has now spread beyond backyard 
flocks to affect 4 commercial operations. Clinical signs in infected birds 
include respiratory, nervous, and gastrointestinal signs. Mortality is up 
to 90 per cent of exposed birds. Investigations are ongoing, and all 
figures are pending final validation. Veterinary Services (VS) is working 
to rapidly expand staff on the task force and is exploring all options to 
send APHIS and other federal government personnel and to work with the 
state on considering additional resources to meet the labor demands.

Situation update (From California's 5:00 pm PST, 11 Jan 2003, report):
Number of premises positive: 339 (up 16 per cent from 10 Jan report)
Number of dangerous contacts: 848 (up 3 per cent from 10 Jan report)
Number of premises depopulated: 749
Premises waiting to be depopulated: 438
Birds depopulated to date: 155 495 (approximate)
Counties with positive flocks: Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San 
Diego,Ventura
Operational Update (as of 1:00 pm EST, 13 Jan 2003):
Of the 1187 premises designated for depopulation, 63.1 per cent have been 
completed.

Four commercial flocks have been confirmed with END in Riverside, San 
Bernardino, and San Diego Counties, CA. California governor, Gray Davis, 
declared a state of emergency in the fight against the END outbreak in 
California. The emergency declaration will enable state agencies to pool 
resources and work cooperatively with CDFA in addressing the response to 
the incident.

Effective 7 Jan 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. USDA has declared an extraordinary 
emergency. The extraordinary emergency allows USDA to apply federal 
authority within the state of California.

VS has worked with the US Postal Service to affirm that poultry will not be 
able to move out of the quarantined areas through the mail.

State and animal health officials are conducting door-to-door surveys to 
identify fowl and other birds in the affected areas and are following up on 
epidemiological associations.

To date, depopulation, cleaning and disinfecting, and carcass disposal are 
being conducted by CDFA and APHIS. CDFA has closed all poultry exhibits, 
fairs, and expositions within the state of California's quarantined area. 
Affected and exposed poultry are being euthanized and double-bagged. Task 
force members are disinfecting the bags and transporting the carcasses to 
restricted landfills for burial. Local commercial table egg layer birds and 
spent-hen movements have been halted within the quarantined areas.

The following link is to the State of California's END website: 
<http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/ah/Newcastle_info.htm>
The following link is to APHIS' END website: 
<http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/enc.exoticnc.html>

If you have any questions about this situation, please email 
<EMOC@APHIS.USDA.GOV>.

-- 
Thomas E Walton
<thomas.e.walton@usda.gov>

[see also:
Newcastle disease, game birds, poultry - USA (CA)(03)  20030108.0060
Newcastle disease, game birds, poultry - USA (CA) (02) 20030104.0021
Newcastle disease, game birds, poultry - USA (CA)      20030103.0014
2002
----
Newcastle disease, game birds, poultry - USA (CA)      20021228.6147
Newcastle disease, game birds - USA (CA) (11)          20021221.6104
Newcastle disease, game birds - USA (CA) (10)          20021216.6077
Newcastle disease, game birds - USA (CA) (09)          20021208.6014
Newcastle disease, game birds - USA (CA) (08)          20021203.5958
Newcastle disease, game birds - USA (CA) (07)          20021125.5893
Newcastle disease, game birds - USA (CA) (06)          20021112.5780
Newcastle disease, game birds - USA (CA) (05)          20021101.5689
Newcastle disease, game birds - USA (CA) (04)          20021026.5646
Newcastle disease, game birds - USA (CA) (03)          20021019.5603
Newcastle disease, game birds - USA (CA) (02)          20021012.5533
Newcastle disease, game birds - USA (TX): warning      20021006.5482
Newcastle disease, game birds - USA (CA): OIE          20021004.5468]

....................tg/pg/sh

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