NEWCASTLE DISEASE, GAME FOWL, POULTRY - USA (WEST) (17)
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[1]
Date: 3 Jun 2003
From: Thomas E. Walton Thomas.e.Walton@usda.gov
Source: Official APHIS update [edited]


Subject: Emergency Management Warning 97: Exotic Newcastle Disease in 
the United States

Exotic Newcastle disease (END) was confirmed on 1 Oct 2002, in the 
State of California and is now in the final phase of total 
eradication. For the past 4 week only 7 new backyard urban flocks 
have been detected and they were immediately depopulated.  The Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has also recently taken 
the following significant regulatory actions:

1. A prohibition on the interstate and international movement of 
animals for fighting, which directly addressed gamefowl movements for 
fighting, was  published in the Federal Register on 12 May 2003.

2. With the complete eradication of END in the States of Nevada and 
Arizona, effective on 14 May 2003, APHIS lifted federal quarantines 
on the 5 counties affected in Nevada and Arizona.  Additionally, all 
Federal/State emergency response incident command posts in the 2 
States have been closed.

3. With the successful eradication of END in the single index flock 
in Texas, the Federal/State incident command post in Socorro, TX has 
also been closed.

APHIS is currently conducting END strategy meetings planning for 
final eradication and surveillance activities.  All U.S. trading 
partners should be assured that all commercial U.S. poultry genetics 
and products can be certified as END-free.

Current Statistics

California
Personnel Assigned: 923
Premises Currently Quarantined: 15 073
Current Positive Premises: 46 backyard, 15 commercial
Current Contact Premises: 67 backyard, 1 commercial
Premises Pending Depopulation: 14

Cumulative Statistics

California / Texas / Arizona / Nevada / Total
Total Premises Quarantined: 18 001 / 498        / 67 / 155 / 18 721
Total Premises Released: 2907 / 2 / 66 / 155 / 3130
Total Positive Premises: 920 (+2) / 1 (no change) / 1 (no change) / 
10 (no change) / 932 (+2)
Total Premises Depopulated: 2469 / 41 / 6 / 147 / 2663
Total Birds Depopulated: 3 493 454 / 1871 / 269 / 2746 / 3 498 340
Counties with Currently Positive and/or Contact Premises:Kern, Los 
Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura

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.

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

******
[2]
Date: 28 May 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>

New Mexico Livestock Board
300 San Mateo Blvd NE, Suite 1000
Albuquerque, NM  87108-1500 * (505) 841-6161 * FAX (505) 841-6160
Steven R. England, DVM * State Veterinarian

For immediate release 28 May 2003

Animal Health Officials Confident Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) is 
Wiped Out in El Paso. Most Restrictions Released; Others Remain

State and federal animal health authorities are one step closer to 
releasing restrictions on birds in El Paso County, following an 
outbreak of the deadly bird virus Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) in 
backyard birds in El Paso in early April 2003.  After testing more 
than 800 backyard flocks in El Paso and surrounding counties, 
regulatory veterinarians say they have sufficient evidence that there 
is no additional END infection in the area. END can be spread among 
all bird species, causing losses of up to 100 percent. END is a 
foreign animal disease and results in international trade 
restrictions.

"As of Wednesday afternoon, 28 May 2003, birds and poultry may again 
be moved freely within El Paso County.  There is no need to obtain a 
permit to move birds within the county," announced Dr. Bob Hillman, 
Texas state veterinarian and executive director for the Texas Animal 
Health Commission (TAHC), the state's livestock and poultry health 
regulatory agency.

"On 10 Apr 2003, a 5-county quarantined area was established to 
contain the disease, detected in a flock of backyard birds in El Paso 
County. On 15 Apr 2003, the TAHC stopped all bird movement within El 
Paso County, while teams continued working to eradicate the disease. 
We began issuing permits 8 May 2003 to allow pet birds to be moved 
within the county. Today, we are lifting movement restrictions, 
allowing both pet birds and poultry to be moved freely within the El 
Paso County boundaries."

Dr. Hillman explained that El Paso County birds and poultry still may 
not be transported beyond the county borders, until state and federal 
quarantines are lifted. "The task force in El Paso has submitted a 
request to the USDA for federal quarantine release, and the 
supporting documentation is being reviewed.  We hope the process will 
take only a few days," he said.  Until the quarantines are released, 
birds and poultry still may not moved out of El Paso and Hudspeth 
Counties in Texas, and Dona Anna, Luna, and Otero Counties in New 
Mexico.

"USDA and state quarantines will be lifted simultaneously. A very 
small area within El Paso County, however, will remain quarantined 
until mid-October 2003," said Dr. Coats, TAHC's deputy director for 
animal health programs. "The precise dimensions of this long-term 
quarantined area are being determined, but will encompass the 
premises and the surrounding area where the outbreak started. 
Movement of birds from this specific area must be restricted until at 
least mid-October, so that we can be assured no virus remains in the 
area, and to meet requirements for regaining international trade 
status."

Dr. Coats said the task force's incident command center in Socorro 
will be closed in the next few days.  "We still urge residents to 
call with questions or to report sick birds, so that they may be 
tested," he said.

He referred callers in Texas to the TAHC's 24-hour hotline at 
1-800-550-8242, or to the USDA's Veterinary Services office in Texas 
at 512-916-5552.  In New Mexico, bird owners may call the New Mexico 
Livestock Board at 505-841-6161 or  the USDA's Veterinary Services 
office in New Mexico at 505-761-3160.

"This disease eradication effort is an excellent example of the 
coordination among local and state emergency management personnel, 
Texas and New Mexico state veterinarians' offices, and the USDA," 
said Dr. Hillman. "This teamwork is essential for successfully 
managing an animal health emergency."

"This disease outbreak started during my first week in Texas as TAHC 
executive director, and I was very impressed by the response of the 
private veterinary practitioners, producers, pet and feed store 
operators, and everyone who joined in to ensure this would be a 
short-lived disease outbreak," he said. "The cooperation in the 
community has been outstanding, and the work of all parties involved 
has been exemplary. We expect to hear about the federal quarantine 
releases very soon and will provide information quickly, so that 
normal commerce and routines can be re-established."

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

[It is good news that quarantines are being lifted. The disease is 
being eradicated in these affected areas. - Mod.TG]

[see also:
Newcastle disease, game fowl, plty - USA (west) (16) 20030527.1297
Newcastle disease, game fowl, plty - USA (west)(15) 20030519.1236
Newcastle disease, game fowl, plty  USA(west) (14) 20030515.1212
Newcastle disease, game fowl, plty - USA (west) (13) 20030505.1121
Newcastle disease, game fowl, plty. - USA (west)(02) 20030211.0372
Newcastle disease, game fowl, plty. - USA (west)      20030206.0318
Newcastle disease, poultry - USA (TX): OIE (02) 20030425.1014
Newcastle disease, poultry - USA (TX): OIE      20030423.0987
Newcastle disease, game birds - USA (TX) (02): confirmed 20030410.0870
Newcastle disease, game birds - USA (Texas): suspect      20030407.0848
Newcastle disease, game birds, poultry - USA (CA) (06) 20030209.0353
Newcastle disease, poultry - USA: correction      20030428.1044
Newcastle disease, poultry - USA: EU import ban      20030427.1036]
..................tg/pg/lm

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