To:	To Whom It May Concern
From:	Dr. Nancy Halpern, State Veterinarian
Date:	April 10, 2003
Re:	Exotic Newcastle Disease Emergency Order

To Whom It May Concern:

In October 2002, a backyard poultry flock was diagnosed with Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) in Los Angeles County, California. This disease was then confirmed in commercial flocks and since then has spread to several counties in Southern California. A quarantine was issued for these counties as of January 2003. This quarantine was then expanded to include counties in Nevada and Arizona, Texas and New Mexico.

Exotic Newcastle Disease is a foreign, contagious, highly fatal viral disease affecting all species of birds. It is one of the most infectious diseases of poultry in the world. Exotic Newcastle Disease is known to spread rapidly and can cause extremely high mortality rates approaching a 100 percent loss in poultry and game bird flocks. Movement of infected birds or contaminated materials or equipment can easily spread the disease.

To protect the New Jersey poultry industry, game bird industry, pet birds and wild bird populations, the Department of Agriculture has enacted an Emergency Order that specifies the following requirements for the movement of birds and products into the State of New Jersey:

1. No avian species or avian products that have originated from or transited through counties containing avian species diagnosed with Exotic Newcastle Disease, or counties adjoining those infected counties, will be allowed entry into the state of New Jersey.
   
   
2. In addition, all live birds and hatching eggs of any avian species must now obtain a permit prior to entering the State of New Jersey.
   
   
3. Permits may be obtained by contacting the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Health, at (609) 292-3965, Monday-Friday, 8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Avian permit form
   
   
4. For those birds that may only enter the state with a health certificate, the permit number must appear on that certificate, issued by an accredited veterinarian. A VS FORM 9-2 or 9-3, or Avian Permit Form (obtained from the Division of Animal Health) may be used for birds entering New Jersey legally without a health certificate. In addition, a statement that the birds are healthy and did not originate from or have not transited through counties diagnosed with END, and counties adjoining those infected counties, must also appear on the certificate or permit form that accompanies the birds.
   
   
5. Health certificates are not required for live birds of any avian species being transported directly to a U.S. Department of Agriculture-recognized slaughterhouse or a slaughter-only livestock auction, however a permit still must be obtained.