Seven Newcastle Disease Outbreaks in Israel

Via The Poultry Site :

" The Israeli veterinary authorities have reported seven new outbreaks of Newcastle disease in Haifa, Hadarom, Hazafon and Jerusalem.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) received follow-up report no.7 on Sunday, 15 January. The affected population comprises broilers, turkeys and egg layers.

According to the report, a total of 454,500 birds showed signs of susceptibility to the outbreak, out of which approximately 40,000 cases were reported. A total of 26,000 deaths were recorded, and 219,500 birds were destroyed, while 186,000 were slaughtered.

The source of the outbreak remains inconclusive, and the epidemiological investigation is ongoing."

More description on Newcastle Disease

I've just posted a news report with regards to the Newcastle Disease outbreak in Mongolia (see below). Here's more information on the disease from OIE :

" AETIOLOGY

Classification of the causative agent

Virus family Paramyxoviridae, genus Rubulavirus

Temperature: Inactivated by 56°C/3 hours, 60°C/30 min
pH: Inactivated by acid pH
Chemicals: Ether sensitive
Disinfectants: Inactivated by formalin and phenol
Survival: Survives for long periods at ambient temperature, especially in faeces

EPIDEMIOLOGY

Hosts

- Many species of birds, both domestic and wild
- The mortality and morbidity rates vary among species, and with the strain of virus
- Chickens are the most susceptible poultry, ducks and geese are the least susceptible poultry
- A carrier state may exist in psittacine and some other wild birds

Transmission

- Direct contact with secretions, especially faeces, from infected birds
- Contaminated feed, water, implements, premises, human clothing, etc.

Sources of virus

- Respiratory discharges, faeces
- All parts of the carcass
- Virus is shed during the incubation period and for a limited period during convalescence
- Some psittacine birds have been demonstrated to shed ND virus intermittently for over 1 year

Occurrence

Newcastle disease is endemic in many countries of the world. Some European countries have been free of the disease for years

For detailed information on occurrence, see recent issues of World Animal Health and the OIE Bulletin"

Mongolia reports outbreak of bird disease "Newcastle"

A report from Xinhua :

" ULAN BATOR, Aug. 30 : Mongolian State Emergency Commission on Monday announced an outbreak of contagious bird disease "Newcastle," the first time in the country's history.

The outbreak occurred at a commercial chicken farm in the Ulan Bator region. Chicken death was reported at the farm 10 days ago and experts confirmed the outbreak, tentatively concluding the disease was transmitted from chicken feed.

So far about 50 chicken on the farm have died. A total of 1,600 eggs will be confiscated and destroyed, 4,847 chicken be slaughtered and the farm is to be disinfected, according to a decree of the State Emergency Commission.

There are a total of about 270,000 chicken in chicken farms of the Ulan Bator region. Currently, quarantine has been imposed in all chicken farms and mobile patrols have been set up around the area."