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Texas Agriculture Archive

February 7, 2003

Newcastle disease risk increasing

By Lana Robinson
Field Editor

Health officials are not saying the sky is falling, but they are warning that the risk for Exotic Newcastle Disease (END), a foreign animal disease deadly to birds and poultry, is increasing. On Jan. 16, Nevada officials reported that END had been confirmed in a flock of 30 chickens near Las Vegas. Since October 2002, when it was detected in the U.S., the outbreak of this highly contagious viral disease had been confined to three commercial poultry operations in Southern California. Animal health officials are now warning bird and poultry owners to comply with movement prohibitions on birds and related products from the quarantined areas in California and Nevada. They worry that the spread of the disease could jeopardize poultry production in other parts of the country as well as international trading opportunities.

"Fortunately, Nevada has no commercial poultry operations, so this disease situation may be limited," said Dr. James Lenarduzzi, DVM, acting executive director of the Texas Animal Health Commission, Texas' livestock and poultry health regulatory agency.

According to animal health officials, END does not affect human health or the safety of food products, but it can cause nearly 100 percent death loss in susceptible birds. Sick birds may exhibit respiratory distress, diarrhea, nervousness, or a drop in egg production.

Lenarduzzi said commercial operators may experience a lesser threat, with only moderate death loss and a 10 percent decrease in egg production. Although a vaccine for END is available, he said it can "cover up" disease, making it more difficult to detect. A task force of more than 700 state and federal animal health employees from across the country have their work cut out for them in Southern California, where the federal quarantine has been expanded to eight counties. The quarantine prohibits the movement of birds of any species, poultry and poultry products from the area. However, eggs that have been washed, sanitized and packed in new shipping containers are being permitted to leave the area.

Conrad Boeck of Guadalupe County, chairman of Texas Farm Bureau's Poultry Committee, is owner of Featherland Egg Farms in Marion. The family operation has been in business for 50 years and supplies eggs to grocery stores, military bases, and wholesale distributors. Boeck tends to some 150,000 chickens.

"When it comes to Exotic Newcastle Disease, there's not a whole lot you can do," said Boeck. "We have paid more attention to the diseases that are closer, like avian influenza. You observe the same biosecurity measures. You don't want to let anybody into the henhouse you don't know or that has not been cleaned, their clothes...you don't let anybody come from one chicken house into another. You have to be cautious about feed trucks and other trucks on your property that have been on other farms. Everyone is doing that, and unless they have direct connections with California or Nevada, that's about it. There's not much more we can do than hold our breath. There's nothing you can do for the birds themselves, if they are exposed. You just try to limit exposure to outside entities."

The virus is spread through the droppings of infected birds or by secretions from their nose, mouth or eyes. In mild weather, the END virus remains viable on surfaces for several weeks and can be transported to new sites on contaminated shoes, clothing, equipment, trucks, manure or even feathers.

"That is why bird and poultry movement is prohibited from the quarantine zone, and trucks, equipment and other items must be disinfected prior to movement," Dr. Lenarduzzi said.

About 4,800 commercial and non-commercial flocks in the eight-county area in California remain under quarantine and will be checked for END. Lenarduzzi said nearly 1,250 noncommercial flocks and five commercial poultry operations have been infected or exposed to END.

"END-infected and exposed birds and flocks must be euthanized and disposed of properly," he said. "The premises then must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to ensure the virus has been killed."

In mid-January, he said more than 150,000 birds had been euthanized, and another 1.5 million birds were slated for depopulation.

Dr. Max Coats, TAHC deputy executive director for animal health programs, said the California outbreak likely occurred due to illegal entry of infected birds.

"It's hard to prove, but illegally imported birds, domestic birds or pet birds, are likely the source," said Coats. "Amazon parrots, for example, can carry and spread it even though they appear to be perfectly healthy. You never really know how it arrived, and once it gets here, it's even harder to tell, it's such a rapidly spreading viral disease."

Coats said protocols are in place regarding entry.

"With import rules for international movement, we have testing and quarantine of those that legally enter. Assuming you've got your rules about right, and people abide by them, you don't have a problem. When they decide to go around entry requirements, for whatever reason, the risk of disease goes way up," he said. "We've worked hard to make sure people are aware of what's at stake, that complying with rules is important. The rules are there for a reason, to control the spread."

Coats said animal health officials have been on a high biosecurity alert and many of responsibilities from traditional agencies are being transferred to the newly-created Office of Homeland Security.

"The level of apprehension is high. The old time barriers, the oceans, don't really protect us anymore. Foreign animal diseases can be more easily transported today. END is occurring around the world. It showed up in Australia recently. Also in Taiwan, Algeria, Japan and Denmark. Despite our best attempts, it does show up. They've had it in Malaysia, and in Turkey in the last couple of years. So there are a lot of little outbreaks around the world—Israel in 2001, New Zealand, Honduras, even Nepal," he said.

Coats said the END outbreak is costing the government a huge amount of money. He said it could mirror California's l971-74 outbreak, which cost $56 million to eradicate and resulted in the destruction of nearly 12 million chickens.

"There are 700 people on the payroll already and it may go to as high as 2,000 to 3,000," he noted.

Although illegal importers of birds face potentially serious penalties, Coats said the full extent of the penalties are not often exacted.

TAHC's Lenarduzzi reported that several TAHC and USDA-Texas veterinarians have traveled to California to provide support.

"For years, we've conducted tabletop and simulated exercises for a foreign animal disease outbreak; now we'll put that training to use," he said.

Lenarduzzi also urged Texas producers to be vigilant and immediately report any disease problem occurring in a flock.

"Don't wait to report it," said Lenarduzzi. "END can spread like wildfire, and what we don't know could jeopardize the Texas poultry industry that employs more than 14,000 Texans and has an economic impact of nearly $4 billion a year. END threatens everyone in the poultry and bird industry, whether it's a commercial operator, hobbyist and pet bird owner. Everyone must comply with quarantines, watch for disease and report unusual illness or death loss among birds or flocks."

Protect your flock

Beyond movement restriction compliance, bird and poultry owners can protect their flocks by practicing good biosecurity. The Texas Animal Health Commission advises bird owners to:

•Report unusual death losses or illness in the flock. In Texas, owners should call their veterinarian, or the Texas Animal Health Commission, which takes emergency calls 24 hours a day, at 1-800-550-8242.

•Don't keep pet birds on commercial poultry operations. Employees must not maintain their own birds or poultry, as they could carry bacteria or viruses from their birds to the commercial flock.

•Disinfect tires and the undercarriages of all vehicles as they enter or leave the farm or premise (no "germs in," no "germs out").

•Disinfect footwear prior to entering or leaving poultry houses. Wear clean clothes when working with birds.

•Avoid visiting other poultry operations. Dangerous bacteria and viruses can be transported from one farm to another

•Know the health status of the flocks when buying new birds. Keep new birds segregated for 30 days prior to adding them to a flock.

•Maintain good records on purchases and sales. If a disease problem arises, these documents can help animal health officials track and eradicate disease.