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| Credit Iowa State Center For Food Security & Public Health |
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A year ago (May 18th, 2018) the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) and the USDA announced the first outbreak of Virulent Newcastle Disease (vND) reported in the United States since 2003 (see APHIS: USDA Confirms Virulent Newcastle Disease In Backyard Flock - California).
While posing only a minor threat to human health - rarely 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.An outbreak in 1971 that began in Southern California led to the culling of 12 million birds and a loss of tens of millions of dollars while the last outbreak in 2003 led to the depopulation of 3.16 million birds at a cost of $161 million (cite).
A year into California's most recent vND outbreak, more than 1 million (mostly backyard, exhibition) birds have been lost to culling and/or the disease. All of Los Angeles County, and large sections of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties remain under quarantine.
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| Southern California Quarantine Area |
The USDA's latest update (May 20th), reads:
Virulent Newcastle Disease (vND)
Last Modified: May 20, 2019
Virulent Newcastle disease, formerly known as exotic 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.
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 with mild symptoms, such as conjunctivitis. These are easily prevent with personal protective equipment.
Since May 18, 2018, USDA has confirmed 440 premises in California as infected with vND, including 139 in San Bernardino County, 256 in Riverside County, 44 in Los Angeles County, 1 in Ventura County, and 1 in Alameda County. USDA also confirmed 1 infected premises in Utah County, Utah and 1 infected premises in Coconino County, Arizona.
The importation of non-native agricultural disease threats is a constant concern, and if not contained, can have devastating economic impacts. In 2001 the UK experienced an outbreak of FMD that cost them as much as 18 billion (USD).
The USDA prepares for this threat with FAD PReP, which stands for Foreign Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Plan. FAD PReP is designed to deal with a variety of imported animal diseases, including:
- Avian influenza
- Foot-and-Mouth Disease
- Classical Swine Fever
- Newcastle Disease
- African Swine Fever
Sadly, for many of these diseases, the only recourse is to cull or destroy all exposed animals, even those that appear healthy. There has been, understandably, some resistance in the community to these actions.Yesterday the CDFA released the following letter explaining the necessity of this policy.
Just as with epidemic diseases in humans, the risks of seeing foreign animal diseases imported into this country continue to rise as international travel, and trade, increases.
While most of these diseases don't directly impact human health, some of them - like avian influenza, Anthrax, Brucellosis, Japanese encephalitis, Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever, and Rift Valley Fever - can pose a threat to public health.For a long (and growing) list of notifiable animal diseases, you may wish to peruse the USDA's Notifiable Diseases and Conditions webpage.
