Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
2/17/03
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Darrell W. Trampel, DVM, Extension Poultry Veterinarian, (515) 294-0710,
dtrampel@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
Exotic Newcastle Disease Confirmed in California Poultry
Ames, Iowa - Exotic Newcastle disease (END) is a very serious, contagious and often fatal viral disease that affects most species of birds. Exotic Newcastle disease was confirmed on October 1, 2002 in California and has now spread beyond backyard flocks to affect 12 commercial chicken flocks in that state.
As of February 12, more than 2 million chickens at more than 1,500 locations have been destroyed in California. Once affected premises are identified and birds humanely destroyed, affected areas are being thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Landfills, composting and rendering are being used for safe disposal of affected birds and materials.
California and the USDA currently have a task force of more than 1,500 people in southern California fighting this disease. In January and February of 2003, END was also diagnosed in backyard chicken flocks in Nevada and Arizona.
Outbreaks in some commercial layer flocks in California have been traced to fighting birds in backyard chicken flocks. California's state veterinarian has indicated that some owners may be smuggling their fighting roosters out of state to avoid having them destroyed. Illegal transportation of these fighting chickens out of the quarantine zone represents a potential route by which END could enter Iowa.
END spreads primarily through direct contact between healthy birds and the bodily discharges of infected birds. Infected birds shed large amounts of virus in their droppings and secretions from the nose, mouth and eyes.
The disease also spreads by mechanical means. Shoes and clothing can pick up virus-bearing material and carry it from an infected flock to a healthy one. Dissemination between flocks over long distances has been due to movement of contaminated vehicles, equipment, people and infected birds. The END virus can survive for several weeks in a warm and humid environment on birds' feathers, manure and other materials and indefinitely in frozen material. END virus is rapidly destroyed by dehydration, heat, sunlight and most disinfectants.
Mortality is up to 90% in susceptible, unvaccinated birds. The incubation period for the disease ranges from 2 to 15 days. Many birds die so quickly that no symptoms of disease are observed prior to death. However, most infected birds will 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;
* Egg production: partial to complete drop in production and thin-shelled eggs;
* Appearance: swelling of the tissues around the eyes and in the neck;
* Mortality: sudden death and increased death loss in a flock.
END poses a potential threat to both commercial and hobby poultry in Iowa. Infected birds illegally removed from a quarantine zone and contaminated cars and trucks could potentially spread END to other states.
Iowa is the leading egg-producing state in the country with more than 40 million laying hens. Also, Iowa produces approximately 8 million turkeys each year. Virtually all commercial egg-laying chickens have been vaccinated for the disease at least three times. Vaccination will reduce illness and death from END, however, vaccinated poultry can still be infected, shed END virus and be a source of infection to other susceptible birds. Antibiotics have no affect on viruses and, therefore, are not useful in treating END.
Keeping END out of a flock is the best method for protecting the health of poultry and other birds. Poultry owners should avoid all unnecessary contact with birds other than their own. They should not share equipment with their friends and neighbors or visit their neighbor's flocks. Poultry owners should not purchase new birds (other than one-day-old chicks or poults from a hatchery) to add to their flock or attend exhibitions of poultry or other birds while the threat of END is present.
END does not pose a public health risk to consumers of eggs or poultry products. Human illness due to END virus is extremely rare and, when it does occur, usually manifests itself as a limited, short-term conjunctivitis (pink eye). Normal cooking temperatures will destroy the virus. The latest information concerning the exotic Newcastle disease outbreak can be found at the State of California's END Web site: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/ah/Newcastle_info.htm.
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