Background
Newcastle disease is a highly contagious disease of birds caused by a para-myxo virus. Birds affected by this disease are fowls, turkeys, geese, ducks, pheasants, guinea fowl and other wild and captive birds, including ratites such ostriches, emus and rhea.
In Great Britain, isolated cases of this disease were first reported in the 1930s. From 1947 outbreaks occurred here over the next 30 years, and there were further isolated cases in 1984 and 1996-7. More recently, during October / November 2006, Newcastle Disease was confirmed in East Lothian (for more details on this case and associated restrictions please refer to the left hand menu bar).
The disease is transmitted through infected birds' droppings and secretions from the nose, mouth, and eyes. The disease is spread primarily through direct contact between healthy birds and the bodily discharges of infected birds. Virus-bearing material can also be picked up on shoes and clothing and carried from an infected flock to a healthy one.
Possible routes of transmission therefore include contact between poultry and also through movements of contaminated vehicles, equipment, manure, feed and water.
The virus can survive for several weeks in a warm and humid environment on birds' feathers, manure, and other materials.
Legislation
The legislative base for the control and eradication of Newcastle Disease is The Diseases of Poultry Order 2003
Advice for Bird Keepers
There are 3 main ways of reducing the risk of disease spread in the event of an outbreak - housing, biosecurity and vigilance.