BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) is a VERY serious, contagious and often fatal viral disease that affects most species of birds. It is a reportable disease and can have serious consequences on exportation of all poultry products from an infected area.
Exotic Newcastle Disease was diagnosed in backyard poultry flocks in Southern California on October 1, 2002. It has since hit several commercial egg flocks in Southern California as well. January 16, 2003 - END was confirmed in a small backyard flock of chickens near Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. February 4, 2003 - END was confirmed in a flock of 30 chickens on the Colorado River Indian Tribes' reservation in Western Arizona. So far there is no sign the deadly disease had spread to commercial operations in Nevada and Arizona.
In April 2003, USDA/APHIS reported that END was confirmed in backyard fowl near El Paso, Texas: Exotic Newcastle Disease has been confirmed in backyard fowl near El Paso, Texas. The viral strain is similar to the CA/AZ/NV strain and further sequencing is expected next week. The infected flock contained approximately 164 backyard fowl. The premises, which is under state quarantine, has been depopulated. Depopulation of adjacent and dangerous contact sites has begun and will be completed promptly. The affected premises is approximately 15 miles from New Mexico (where cock fighting is legal). Surveillance activities are taking place in New Mexico as well. There are no commercial premises in Texas within 100 miles, and one small commercial layer operation (approximately 30-50,000 birds) about 15 miles away in New Mexico. The owner of this premises has been contacted about surveillance and increased biosecurity. APHIS is proceeding with a declaration of extraordinary emergency and the establishment of a federal quarantine for the Texas counties of El Paso and Hudspeth, and the New Mexico counties of Luna, Dona Ana and Otero.
The Exotic New Castle Disease (END) task force formalized a policy that will change the way pet birds are handled within the quarantine zone:
Exotic Newcastle disease task force expands opportunities for home quarantine and isolation for caged birds (California Department of Food and Agriculture, February 13, 2003)
Policy on pet and exotic birds housed in cages with enclosed structures (USDA, February 2003)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Exotic Newcastle Disease factsheets
Biosecurity-related factsheets
Exotic Newcastle Disease factsheet (MN Board of Animal Health)
Exotic Newcastle Disease factsheet (USDA/APHIS)
Species Profiles: Exotic New Castle Disease (National Invasive Species Council)
National Communication Plan (APHIS)
National Surveillance Plan | Attachment #1 - Survey form referred to in National Surveillance Plan (APHIS)
Map of California Counties Affected by Newcastle (CA Department of Food and Agriculture)
NEWS ARTICLES
February 25, 2003 - Exotic Newcastle Disease: Urgent information for gamefowl breeders (USDA)
August 4, 2003 -Exotic Newcastle Disease; Removal of areas from quarantine (Federal Register, Vol. 68 No. 149)
July 11, 2003 - Agriculture officials hope to stop spread of exotic Newcastle disease (The Modesto Bee)
July 2, 2003 - No new exotic Newcastle cases reported in a month (SanDiego.com)
June 12, 2003 - Exotic Newcastle quarantine lifted in Texas, New Mexico (CIDRAP)
May 8, 2003 - Cost to battle Newcastle disease tops $100M (Inland Valley Daily Bulletin)
March 28, 2003 - Avian disease found at 7th poultry ranch: Cost of eradication continues to climb (SanDiego.Com)
March 15, 2003 - Avian virus infects 2 more poultry ranches (Union-Tribune)
March 5, 2003 - Ag official warns of possible scam - chicken owners targeted (TheBakersfieldChannel.com)
February 13, 2003 - Declaration of extraordinary emergency because of exotic Newcastle Disease in Arizona (Federal Register, Vol. 68 No. 30)
January 16, 2003 - Deadly bird disease found in Las Vegas (Reno Gazette-Journal)
January 10, 2003 - Poultry quarantine now covers 8 counties in region (San Diego Union-Tribune)
January 6, 2003 - Government of Mexico establishes new import requirements for Newcastle Disease and poultry meat for further processing (USDA Foreign Agricultural Service)
November 15, 2002 - Exotic Newcastle disease strikes game birds in California (American Veterinary Medical Association)
INTERNATIONAL OUTBREAKS
Australia (1998-2002)
Algeria - August 2002
Denmark- August 2002
Israel - March 2001
Sweden - February 2001
Mexico - April 2000
Luxembourg - December 1999
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