DISCLAIMER: PLEASE note! This is a legitimate email we personally received. We have deleted information regarding the author so as not to flood him with inquiries. They are all from the Department of Animal Science, University of California. The UC Poultry Website is http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu.avian/

To: "UC List for Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) Releases"
Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2003 2:42 PM
Subject: END Update

There is not any good news to report. The END virus has been found in at least 14 commercial flocks and three more are suspect positive. In addition there are about 250 small premises scheduled for depopulation indicating that there is still a large problem. The disease seems to be moving faster and easier than we had hoped. Please maintain your biosecurity and encourage others to do the same. My thanks to all who have been trying to help in the effort by warning/educating others about the seriousness of the problem.

All bird owners are requested to monitor their birds closely and report any unusual health problems to the Task Force at 800-491-1899. There is no charge for laboratory work when END is suspected. When birds must be depopulated the owners are fairly compensated based on the value of the birds. Bird owners are encouraged to protect the health of their birds by avoiding unnecessary contact with other birds.

Updates are available on-line
at: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/ah/Newcastle_info.htm

This is a useful USDA site for END information:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/enc/exoticnc.html

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To: "UC List for Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) Releases"
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2003 6:05 PM
Subject: END Update

END is clearly not under control. Four new commercial farms have tested positive during this week. I heard reports today of possible virus in Sonoma County but a call to the Task Force indicates that they have no such report.

The University of California Poultry Extension faculty (2.5 people) are working to help the industry improve bio-security in egg processing plants and on poultry farms throughout the state. We have about 50 egg processing facilities to visit and only one visit can be made in a day. We much prefer to have 2 days between visits because we don't want to take any chance of spreading the END virus. Every visit is made in a disposable suit with a shower between visits and a complete change of street clothing. We use step pans when ever possible and always hand sanitizer. Disposable suits, boots and head covers are disposed of on the site or sealed in plastic bags for later disposal. If we are on the road we take plastic bags to bag all street clothing at the end of the day and keep it away from clean clothing.

Dr. Whiteford told me yesterday that they have worked out a set of guidelines for dealing with confined pet cage birds in high risk areas. A news release is due on this soon and it is posted on the CDFA web site at:
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/ah/END_TEST/pdfs/End_cage_bird_policy.pdf.

This is a time to avoid public places where birds might be encountered or other bird owners might shop. When you must go for feed or supplies take precautions so that your birds are not exposed to anything you might bring home on your shoes or clothing.

All bird owners are requested to monitor their birds closely and report any unusual health problems to the Task Force at 800-491-1899. There is no charge for laboratory work when END is suspected. When birds must be depopulated the owners are fairly compensated based on the value of the birds. Bird owners are encouraged to protect the health of their birds by avoiding unnecessary contact with other birds.

Updates are available on-line
at: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/ah/Newcastle_info.htm

This is a useful USDA site for END information:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/enc/exoticnc.html

To: "UC List for Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) Releases"
Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2003 5:15 PM
Subject: END Update

END is far from "under control" and most observers close to the situation expect the quarantine to last for at least several more months. Since my last post the END virus has been confirmed on another commercial egg production farm within the quarantine area. It has also been found in a small flock in Arizona near the CA border. At least 5 of the 7 infected commercial farms have been completely depopulated. Some observers have suggested that farmers might profit from payments associated with depopulation. I can assure you that the costs to the farm are large and the market disruption (shortage of product to fill orders) is a major problem. We hope that most of you never see this disease in any of your own birds.

This is a time to avoid public places where birds might be encountered or other bird owners might shop. When you must go for feed or supplies take precautions so that your birds are not exposed to anything you might bring home on your shoes or clothing.

All bird owners are requested to monitor their birds closely and report any unusual health problems to the Task Force at 800-491-1899. There is no charge for laboratory work when END is suspected. When birds must be depopulated the owners are fairly compensated based on the value of the birds. Bird owners are encouraged to protect the health of their birds by avoiding unnecessary contact with other birds.

Updates are available on-line
at: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/ah/Newcastle_info.htm

This is a useful USDA site for END information:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/enc/exoticnc.html

To: "UC List for Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) Releases"
Sent: Monday, February 03, 2003 1:02 PM
Subject: END Report

Thought you might find this useful background information about the END problem.

SPECIAL IPE REPORT: Exotic Newcastle 'wake-up call' for poultry industry, vet warns

Speaking to an audience of industry veterinarians and production managers, Dr. Richard Breitmeyer of the California Department of Food and Agriculture warned that the current crisis surrounding an outbreak of exotic Newcastle disease (END) could get even more complicated. "We have an extensive high-risk situation because of the concentration of poultry in the 4 affected counties [in California]," Breitmeyer said. "There is a serious situation here that has deteriorated during the past 6 weeks."

Breitmeyer's remarks came during a special program on the last day of the International Poultry Exposition held here last week.

Since the initial diagnosis in a game fowl flock in October 2002, the disease has spread among backyard poultry flocks, exotic specialty birds, and fighting cocks in 4 Southern California counties, and on 19 Dec 2002, to commercial laying hens. According to Breitmeyer, by 23 Jan 2003, some 7000 premises had been quarantined and more than 75 000 non-commercial birds destroyed.

The magnitude of the problem lies in the estimate of 50 000 owners holding, fighting, and breeding about 3 million game fowl in Southern California alone. Deficiencies in biosecurity, a failure to maintain the quarantine, and the embargo on movement of birds places the entire California commercial flock -- 24 million egg-producing hens, 38 million broilers, and 8 million turkeys -- at risk.

"We really have a challenge," said Breitmeyer, citing communications problems with [members of] the East Los Angeles Hispanic community who own game fowl, as well as the logistical problems of detecting infected flocks, confirming a diagnosis of END, and destroying the birds. He outlined the Incident Command Response Function established to contain and eradicate the outbreak, and emphasized the need for active surveillance and restriction of bird movement egg-packing equipment among commercial units.

As of 20 Jan 2003, 6 farms housing 1.8 million hens have been depopulated.

The bottom-line message from the program is that the federal authorities from USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) and California officials are apparently going to replay the 1971 scenario, in which eradication of END required 3 years and involved the destruction of 12 million commercial hens and other birds at a cost of $60 million. The regulators do not seem to appreciate the economic impact of a prolonged eradication campaign and the inevitability of the disease continuing to spread, given the certainty of endemic infection of the backyard and game-fowl population.

Now is the time for evaluation of the realities of the situation and the application of basic epidemiological principles relating to immunization. Experience with END in South Africa, Great Britain, and elsewhere suggests that federal officials are trying to reverse the tide.

There is an emerging rift between knowledgeable egg-industry veterinarians who favor quarantine, limited depletion, and intensified vaccination, and regulatory veterinarians, who are pursuing a "traditional" program of detection and slaughter.

The situation demands a reappraisal of the effectiveness of vaccination for all flocks -- both large and small -- and flexibility with regard to depletion of commercial poultry farms. Recent experiences during 2000 in controlling avian influenza in Italy and foot-and-mouth disease in Great Britain have demonstrated the deficiencies of a draconian program of detection and eradication. In fact, Britain and other European Union countries will apply vaccination as the principal control measure in future outbreaks of these catastrophic animal diseases.

This observer could not discern even the slightest "light at the end of the tunnel" message from Breitmeyer's IPE presentation. With no clear indication of how and when the END outbreak will be eradicated, or the parameters of "victory," the Southern California egg industry should recognize its collective vulnerability and move to enhance both vaccination and biosecurity.

The California broiler industry located north of the Tehachapi range is currently unaffected, but movement of poultry along Interstate 5 must be controlled as an adjunct to heightened biosecurity measures to prevent introduction of END infection.

[Byline: Simon Shane]

UC Poultry Website: http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/avian/

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