 |
| Link |
#13,775
For almost eight months we've been following outbreaks of Virulent Newcastle Disease among backyard birds in Southern California (see APHIS: USDA Confirms Virulent Newcastle Disease In Backyard Flock - California), which as of December 20th had resulted in more than 230 outbreaks across 4 counties (Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura, and Riverside).
Until mid-December, all of the outbreaks had been in backyard birds, but on December 14th the virus was discovered in commercial table egg pullets in Riverside county, marking the first such detection in American commercial poultry in 15 years.According to the California Dept. of Food & Agriculture, the last outbreak in commercial poultry - back in 2003 - led to the depopulation of 3.16 million birds at a cost of $161 million. Prior to that, in 1971, an outbreak in Southern California led the culling of 12 million birds.
Although the USDA's weekly summary of Newcastle detections has not been updated for the past 3 weeks due to the government shutdown, today the USDA (h/t Lisa Schnirring at CIDRAP for the head's up) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) have announced a second commercial outbreak.
First from the CDFA:
VIRULENT NEWCASTLE DISEASE ALERT
January 8, 2019: Virulent Newcastle Disease Confirmed in a Commercial Chicken Flock in Riverside County, California
Since May 2018, USDA/APHIS and CDFA employees have been working seven days a week in Southern California to eradicate virulent Newcastle disease in backyard birds, and to protect commercial facilities.
This is the second case during the current outbreak that the virus has reached a commercial facility. The first was on December 14, 2018. Both facilities are in Riverside County.
By moving quickly, to humanely euthanize this flock, we are eradicating the disease before it spreads and preventing the unnecessary suffering of these birds that would otherwise die from the virus.
Virulent Newcastle disease is a fatal respiratory virus in poultry. It is highly contagious, and birds die within days of being infected. There is no cure. Euthanasia is the only way to stop the spread of the virus and eradicate the disease. VND is primarily transmitted by the movement of infected birds, but also by people who have the virus on their clothes or shoes, and by equipment or vehicles that can carry and transport the disease from place to place.
It is critical that all bird owners follow good biosecurity practices to protect their birds and to stop the spread of the disease.
Simple steps:
Virulent Newcastle disease is not a food safety concern, and no human cases of the virus have occurred from eating poultry. Properly cooked poultry products are safe to eat. Human infection is easily prevented by using standard personal protective equipment and following sound biosecurity practices. In very rare instances, people working directly with sick birds can develop mild symptoms that are like conjunctivitis or the flu.
- Washing hands and scrubbing and disinfecting boots before and after entering a poultry area
- Keeping birds and property clean and disease-free
- Not moving birds on or off your property if you’re in an infected area
- Cleaning and disinfecting equipment and tires, before moving them off the property.
USDA/APHIS and CDFA will remain diligent in our joint efforts to stop the spread of the disease and eradicate the virus when, and where, it’s found.
The USDA has released the following statement as well:
USDA Confirms Virulent Newcastle Disease in a Commercial Chicken Flock in California
WASHINGTON, January 8, 2018 -- The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed virulent Newcastle disease in a second commercial poultry flock in California. The latest case is in a commercial layer flock in Riverside County. This finding is part of an outbreak in southern California that began in May 2018 in backyard exhibition birds.
Virulent Newcastle disease is not a food safety concern. No human cases of Newcastle disease have ever occurred from eating poultry products. Properly cooked poultry products are safe to eat. In very rare instances people working directly with sick birds can become infected. Symptoms are usually very mild, and limited to conjunctivitis and/or influenza-like symptoms. Infection is easily prevented by using standard personal protective equipment.
APHIS is working closely with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to respond to the finding, limit the disease’s spread in commercial poultry, and then eradicate it. Federal and State partners are conducting additional surveillance and testing in the area, and are working with nearby commercial farms to increase biosecurity to prevent additional disease spread.
It is essential that all bird owners follow good biosecurity practices to help protect their birds from infectious diseases. These include simple steps like washing hands and scrubbing boots before and after entering a poultry area; and cleaning and disinfecting tires and equipment before moving them off the property.
In addition to practicing good biosecurity, all bird owners should report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to State/Federal officials, either through their state veterinarian or through USDA’s toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593. Additional information on biosecurity for all poultry flocks can be found at www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock.
Additional background
Virulent Newcastle disease is a contagious and fatal viral disease affecting the respiratory, nervous and digestive systems of birds and poultry. The disease is so virulent that many birds and poultry die without showing any clinical signs. A death rate of almost 100 percent can occur in unvaccinated poultry flocks. Virulent Newcastle disease can infect and cause death even in vaccinated poultry. Clinical signs of virulent Newcastle disease include: sudden death and increased death loss in the flock; sneezing; gasping for air; nasal discharge; coughing; greenish, watery diarrhea; decreased activity; tremors; drooping wings; twisting of the head and neck; circling; complete stiffness; and swelling around the eyes and neck. Images of some of these signs are available here.
While posing only a minor threat to human health - generally only causing mild flu-like symptoms and/or conjunctivitis - Virulent Newcastle Disease can be up to 100% fatal in poultry, and remains a serious threat to poultry interests world wide.
The first commercial outbreak - reported in December - affected a flock of roughly 110,000 layer chickens, according to a report filed with the (OIE).Although we should see official notification soon, as of this writing, the OIE has not published an update on this latest development.
