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All species of birds are at risk of
getting this disease
What is Newcastle Disease?
Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) is a contagious
and fatal viral disease affecting all
species of birds, both domestic and wild.
END is one of the most infectious diseases
of poultry in the world. It is probably
the most serious disease of chickens throughout
the world. In susceptible chickens, death
rates may exceed 95%.
What causes Newcastle Disease?
Newcastle Disease is caused by a Paramyxovirus.
It is very resistant and survives a pH
of 2 to 12, heating to 130° F (56°
C) for 3 hours, and can survive freezing
indefinitely. Extended drying and ultraviolet
light will kill the virus. END virus can
survive for several weeks in the warmth
and humid environment of a poultry production
unit on feathers, in manure, and other
materials.
What are the signs and symptoms of Newcastle
Disease?
END affects the respiratory, nervous and
digestive systems. The incubation period
ranges from 2 to 15 days. Affected birds
may exhibit the following signs:
- Respiratory: sneezing, gasping for
air, nasal discharge, coughing;
- Digestive: greenish, watery diarrhea;
- Nervous: depression, muscular tremors,
drooping wings, twisting of head and
neck, circling, complete paralysis;
- Partial to complete drop in egg production;
- Production of thin shelled eggs;
- Swelling of the tissues around the
eyes and in the neck;
- Sudden death;
- Increased death loss in flock.
How does Exotic Newcastle Disease spread
from farm-to-farm, bird-to-bird?
Healthy birds are infected when there is
direct contact with infected bodily discharges
of infected birds such as droppings and
secretions from the nose, mouth, and eyes.
Close confinement causes a rapid spread
of disease among birds. All bodily discharges
contain high concentration of END virus.
Therefore, the virus-bearing material
can be picked up on insects, rodents,
containers, shoes and clothing and carried
from a sick flock to a healthy flock.
Any person on the infected farm can spread
END virus including manure haulers, rendering
truck drivers, vaccination and debeaking
crews, egg service people, load-out crews,
chick and poultry delivery personnel,
and poultry farm owners, employees, and
visitors.
Are pet birds at risk of END?
Smuggling pet birds, especially Amazon
parrots pose a great risk of introducing
END. Amazon parrots that are carriers
of END but do not show symptoms are capable
of shedding END virus for more than 400
days. All species of birds are capable
of becoming infected and transmitting
this disease.
Are humans at risk of getting END?
END does not pose a threat to humans. Eggs
and inspected slaughter poultry are safe
for food. Conjunctivitis has occurred
in diagnosticians and pathologists after
examining infected birds.
Are waterfowl and migratory birds at
risk of spreading Newcastle disease?
Yes, cormorants and pelicans were identified
with Newcastle disease in 1992 in Minnesota,
South Dakota, Michigan and Canada. One
South Dakota poultry site and two North
Dakota poultry sites were affected. This
episode of Newcastle Disease was not the
same strain of END that occurred in California
in 1998 and now in 2003, or that occurred
in Mexico in 2000.
What can poultry producers do to lessen
the risk of introducing this disease to
their birds?
1. Permit only essential workers and vehicles
on premises. Ensure no shipping articles,
equipment, or personnel have contact with
quarantined areas.
2. Provide clean clothing and disinfection
facilities for employees.
3. Clean and disinfect vehicles (including
tires and undercarriages) entering and
leaving the premises.
4. Avoid visiting other poultry operations.
5. Maintain an “all-in and all-out”
philosophy of flock management with a
single age flock.
- Control the movement of all poultry
products from farm to farm.
- Do not “skim” mature
birds from a flock for sale to a live-poultry
market.
- Clean and disinfect poultry houses
between each lot of birds.
6. Do not keep pet birds on the farm.
Do not hire employees who own pet birds.
7. Exclude vaccination crews, catching
crews, and other service personnel who
may have been in contact with a poultry
operation within 24 hours.
8. Protect flocks from wild birds that
may try to nest in poultry houses or feed
with domesticated birds.
9. Control movement associated with the
disposal and handling of bird carcasses,
litter, and manure.
10. Immediately report any suspicious
illness or death loss to the state veterinarian.
11. Take diseased birds to a diagnostic
laboratory for examination as directed
by the state veterinarian.
12. Consider END surveillance as part
of on-going disease surveillance activities.
What can pet birds and backyard poultry
enthusiasts do to prevent and control
END?
1. Follow state law, obtain a health certificate
on birds directly imported from other
states.
2. Require certification from suppliers
that birds are legally imported or are
of US stock and healthy prior to shipment,
and will be transported in new or thoroughly
disinfected containers.
3. Maintain records and shipment of flocks.
4. Isolate all newly purchased birds for
at least 30 days. Restrict movement of
personnel between new and old birds.
5. Practice Biosecurity.
6. Report unusual illness or death to
the state veterinarian.
Are your exotic pet birds legally imported?
END is a threat to the caged-bird industry
and poultry hobbyists. Birds illegally
smuggled into the US are not quarantined
and tested on entry. Anyone who is offering
to sell young parrots should be suspected
of smuggling or purchasing smuggled birds.
Amazon parrots can be carriers of END
and can shed the virus for more than 400
days.
What is being done to prevent END from
being introduced into US birds?
USDA-APHIS requires that all imported birds
(poultry, pet birds, birds exhibited to
zoos, and ratites) be tested and quarantined
for disease before entering the country.
Why the excitement about Exotic Newcastle
Disease?
END is classified as a Foreign Animal Disease
when found in the US. A foreign animal
disease is defined as an important transmissible
livestock and poultry disease believed
to be absent from the US and its territories
that has a potential significant health
or economic impact. Not only is there
the high death rates, severe illness,
and production losses; there is almost
immediate and severe loss of export markets.
What is the export value of poultry
products from the US?
Total US exports of poultry meat in 2001
were valued at $2.1 billion. US exports
of eggs were valued at $151 million in
2001.
Are ring neck pheasants susceptible
to END?
Yes, death losses may be quite significant,
and re-building the population may take
many years.
For more information:
Visit the USDA website:
www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/wnv
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