Exotic Newcastle Disease is
a deadly avian disease caused by a virus. The extremely contagious disease affects all species of birds and is spread by contact with infected
birds or materials contaminated with the virus. It does not pose a human health threat and does not affect the safety of chicken meat or
eggs.
Exotic Newcastle Disease has not been detected in Washington and
WSDA is
working with the poultry and
egg industries to
keep it out.
Exotic Newcastle is a reportable disease.
Signs of illness in birds include sneezing, coughing, nasal discharge, diarrhea, a drop in egg production and death.
Report suspected cases of Exotic Newcastle Disease in birds to:
To keep Exotic Newcastle Disease out
of Washington, WSDA adopted an emergency rule in January 2003 that prohibits
moving birds from locations where the disease has been confirmed.
After Exotic Newcastle Disease was
diagnosed last October in backyard poultry flocks in Los Angeles County, Calif.,
it spread to commercial egg-laying facilities in that state. The disease was also discovered in backyard flocks in Nevada,
New Mexico, Arizona and Texas.
As a result, some 13 countries placed restrictions on U.S. or California poultry products or banned products entirely.
WSDA adopted an emergency rule in
January to keep infected birds and contaminated materials out of the state. The rule is
available in English or español.
All state and federal quarantines
were
lifted from Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada and Texas. Veterinarians and animal health inspectors in California
continue to survey and sample to ensure there is no disease left in that state.
In total, more than three million birds were euthanized to stop the disease from
spreading and eradication efforts cost $175 million.
A WSDA fact sheet includes steps bird
owners and poultry producers can take to protect their birds. It is available in
English (PDF) and español (PDF).
A U.S. Department of Agriculture fact sheet on Exotic Newcastle
Disease is also available in English and
español.
