NEWCASTLE DISEASE, GAME FOWL, POULTRY - USA (WEST) (11)
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[1]
Date: 15 Apr2003
From: Thomas E. Walton <thomas.e.walton@usda.gov>
Source: official APHIS release [edited]


Subject: Emergency Management Warning 81: Exotic Management Warning 81: 
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 1 Oct 2002, in the State of 
California, and has now spread beyond backyard flocks to affect 22 
commercial operations in California.  On 16 Jan 2003, END was also 
confirmed in a backyard flock in the State of Nevada.  A backyard flock was 
confirmed with END on 4 Feb 2003, in the State of  Arizona.  On 9 Apr 2003, 
END was confirmed in backyard fowl in Texas. Clinical signs in infected 
birds include respiratory, nervous, and gastrointestinal signs. Mortality 
is up to 90 percent 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 implemented a plan for enhanced national END surveillance.

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

Arizona / California / Nevada / Texas / Grand Total
Number of premises quarantined: 2 / 16 128 / 154 / 33 / 16 317
Number of premises released: 58 / 90 / 0 / 0 / 148
Number of positive premises: * 1 / 884 (up 3 from 4/11) / ** 10 / 1 (no 
change since 4/10) / 896 (up 3 from 4/11)
Number of contact premises: 3 / 1534 (up 1 from 4/11) / 128 / 27 (up 19 
from 4/11) / 1692 (up 20 from 4/11)
Number of premises depopulated: 4 / 2372 / 138 / 27 / 2541
Premises waiting to be depopulated: 0 / 46 / 0 / 1 / 47
Birds depopulated to date: 269 / 3 455 610 / 2746 / 1876 / 3 460 501

Counties with quarantined premises: La Paz.  Los Angeles,  Riverside, 
Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura, Clark, El Paso

* The last infected premises in Arizona was depopulated on 7 Feb 2003.
** The last infected premises in Nevada was depopulated on 29 Jan 2003.

Operational Update

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.

Effective 17 Jan 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 10 Feb 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.

Effective 10 Apr 2003, APHIS imposed a federal quarantine that regulates 
the interstate movement of all species of birds and poultry products from 
all of El Paso and Hudspeth Counties, TX, and Dona Ana, Luna, and Otero 
Counties, NM.  The federal quarantine was placed on counties beyond the 
infected county due to their proximity to the infected county.

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

Currently there are 22 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), 7 
premises in San Diego County (7 infected), and 11 premises in San 
Bernardino County (11 infected).

* Of the 2588 premises designated for depopulation, 98.2 percent have been 
completed.

* APHIS, enhanced surveillance plan includes the surveillance of 22 410 
premises from the Central California Task Force, 3474 premises from the 
Inland Desert Task Force, and 750 premises from the South Coast Task 
Force.  All of these premises currently reside outside the quarantined area 
in the State of California.

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.

Outreach Activities

* The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) distributed a 5550-piece END 
mail-out to veterinarians, bird owners, producers, and agriculture teachers 
who do not have access to e-mail or fax machines.  TAHC also faxed to 
approximately 3300 sites and e-mailed to an additional 30 000 sites 
information regarding the END outbreak in Texas.

* TAHC veterinarians held a local news conference with the El Paso County, 
TX, emergency preparedness officials to brief the public on the END situation.

On a daily basis, Task Force personnel are communicating information 
concerning surveillance, depopulation, and cleaning and disinfection 
operations to all affected city managers in Southern California.

Currently, Task Force information personnel field approximately 450 calls 
per week from the public through the Joint Information Center phone 
bank.  This is a 20-fold increase from the number of calls in October 
2002.  On average, approximately 300 of these calls require follow-up 
action by the Inland Desert or South Coast Incident Command Posts.

The Task Force information staff provides daily updates to approximately 50 
media outlets in California.  In addition, in Area Command alone, the 
information staff field approximately 70 media calls per week.

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 the State of Nevada's END website.
<http://www.agri.state.nv.us/END.htm>

The following link is to the State of Arizona's END website.
<http://agriculture.state.az.us/newcastle.htm>

The following link is to the State of Texas' END website.
<http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/animal_health/diseases/end/end.shtml>

Please forward this information to your federal, State, and industry 
counterparts as necessary.

If you have any questions about this situation, please feel free to call 
USDA, APHIS, VS, Emergency Programs at 800-940-6524, 301-734-8073, or 
e-mail at EMOC@APHIS.USDA.GOV.

-----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

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

******
[2]
Date: 15 Apr 2003
From: Carla Everett <ceverett@tahc.state.tx.us>
Source: official TAHC news release [edited]


NEWS RELEASE
Texas Animal Health Commission
Box l2966
Austin, Texas 78711
(800) 550-8242
FAX (512) 719-0719
Bob Hillman, DVM, Executive Director

For info, contact Carla Everett, information officer, at 1-800-550-8242, 
ext. 710, or <ceverett@tahc.state.tx.us>

For immediate release 10 Apr 2003

Exotic Newcastle Disease Confirmed in Texas;
5 Counties Quarantined in Texas and New Mexico

Birds and poultry movement from 5 counties in Texas and New Mexico is being 
prohibited after laboratory tests completed late Wed 9 Apr 2003 confirmed 
Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) had infected a backyard flock of chickens 
last week near El Paso.  As a preemptive measure, state and federal animal 
health regulatory officials earlier this week destroyed the flock, but are 
concerned that END, a highly contagious foreign-origin virus, may have 
spread to other poultry and birds in the area.

El Paso County has been quarantined by the Texas Animal Health Commission 
(TAHC), and the New Mexico Livestock Board has quarantined Luna, Dona Ana, 
and Otero Counties in New Mexico.  By mid-afternoon Thu 10 Apr 2003, the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expected to place a federal 
quarantine on these counties, in addition to Hudspeth County in Texas.

"As of Wednesday evening, infection has been confirmed only in El Paso 
County," explained Dr. Bob Hillman, Texas state veterinarian and executive 
director for the TAHC.  "However, the 5 counties quarantined in Texas and 
New Mexico are considered to be a trade area in which there is significant 
movement of birds and poultry. State and federal authority is being imposed 
so that disease surveillance, testing and diagnosis can be conducted.  It 
is customary for the USDA to quarantine additional counties, in order to 
create a 'buffer zone' around an infected county.  The END outbreak must be 
stopped before it spreads  to other backyard, hobbyist or exhibition 
flocks, or to the commercial poultry industry."

Dr. Hillman explained that the USDA is providing fair market payment for 
birds that must be destroyed during this disease outbreak.  He stressed 
that  END does not affect human health, nor does it affect poultry products 
or eggs.

"We are depending on bird and poultry owners to assist us in eradicating 
this disease outbreak," said Dr. Steven England, state veterinarian for the 
New Mexico Livestock Board.  "Please report illness or unexpected death 
losses to your private veterinary practitioner or to the TAHC or New Mexico 
Livestock Board." The TAHC has a 24-hour hotline that can be reached at 
1-800-550-8242, and the New Mexico Livestock Board can be called at (505) 
841-6161.

END usually has a 2- to 15-day incubation period, and infected birds or 
poultry may exhibit signs of respiratory distress, including gasping or 
coughing.  The virus also affects the central nervous system, causing 
infected birds to become paralyzed, develop muscle tremors, or twist their 
necks.  In some flocks, disease may strike quickly, and the only sign is 
death loss.

"We are asking for full cooperation from bird and poultry owners.  Do not 
move birds from the quarantine area.  Do not move birds within the area, 
either," he said.  "If at all possible, keep birds in isolation on your 
premise, and ensure that no birds are introduced onto your property  during 
the quarantine period."

Dr. Hillman said that the quarantines will last until state and federal 
animal health officials are certain all disease has been eradicated and 
that it is safe to resume normal movement and activities.

"Take precautions," said Dr. Hillman. "Clean your boots prior to entering 
bird pens. You could pick up contaminated manure on your footwear at the 
feed store, at the coffee shop, or at your neighbor's place.  Use bleach 
and water or a commercial disinfectant to spray or dip your boots.  Wear 
clean clothes when working with the birds.  Clothing, too, can pick up 
viruses that can be transmitted to your birds."

"We can stop the spread of this disease, but only if we all work together 
quickly and cooperatively.  Report illness in your birds. Abide by the 
quarantines.  Practice good biosecurity," said Dr. England.  "By addressing 
this problem together, we can stop this disease before it has a chance to 
become widespread in Texas or New Mexico."

--
Carla Everett
<ceverett@tahc.state.tx.us>

[see also:
Newcastle disease, game birds - USA (TX) (02):confirmed
Newcastle disease, game birds - USA (Texas): suspect      20030407.0848
Newcastle disease, game fowl, plty - USA (west) (10) 20030411.0877
Newcastle disease, game fowl, plty - USA (west) (09)20030407.0845
Newcastle disease, game fowl, plty - USA (west) (08) 20030319.0685
Newcastle disease, game fowl, plty - USA (west) (07) 20030315.0650
Newcastle disease, game fowl, plty. - USA(West)(06) 20030311.0591
Newcastle disease, game fowl, plty. - USA(West)(05) 20030309.0579
Newcastle Disease, game fowl, plty - USA (West)(04) 20030302.0523
Newcastle disease, game fowl, plty. - USA (west)(03) 20030222.0463
Newcastle disease, game fowl, plty. - USA (west)(02) 20030211.0372
Newcastle disease, game birds, poultry - USA (CA) (06) 20030209.0353
Newcastle disease, game fowl, plty. - USA (west)      20030206.0318
Newcastle disease, game fowl, plty. - USA (CA,NV) (02) 20030204.0304
Newcastle disease, game fowl, poultry - USA (CA, NV)      20030127.0246
Newcastle disease, game birds, poultry - USA (CA) (05) 20030117.0145
Newcastle disease, game birds, poultry - USA (CA)(04) 20030116.0129
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 - USA (TX): warning      20021006.5482
Newcastle disease, game birds, poultry - USA (CA)      20021228.6147
Newcastle disease, game birds - USA (CA) (11) 20021221.6104
Newcastle disease, game birds - USA (CA) (02) 20021012.5533
Newcastle disease, game birds - USA (CA): OIE      20021004.5468]
..................tg/pg/dk




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