FAQ - Newcastle Disease
Q. What is Newcastle disease?
A. Newcastle disease is a highly contagious disease of birds caused by a paramyxovirus. Birds affected by this disease are fowls, turkeys, geese, ducks, pheasants, guinea fowl, and other wild and captive birds, including ratites such as ostriches, emus and rhea. For more information visit the disease factsheet on the Defra website ( www.defra.gov.uk/index.htm).
Q. How is it transmitted?
A. Possible routes of transmission include contact between poultry and also through movements of contaminated vehicles, equipment, manure, feed and water. For more information visit the disease factsheet on the Defra website ( www.defra.gov.uk/index.htm).
Q. What are the symptoms?
A. Sneezing, gasping for air, nasal discharge, coughing; Greenish, watery diarrhoea; Depression, muscular tremors, drooping wings, twisting of head and neck, circling, complete paralysis; Swelling of the tissues around the eyes and in the neck; Sudden death; Increased death loss in a flock. In laying birds there can be partial to complete drop in egg production; and production of thin-shelled eggs. For more information visit the disease factsheet on the Defra website ( www.defra.gov.uk/index.htm).
Anybody suspecting disease should report this immediately to their local Animal Health Office.
Q. Is Newcastle disease a concern for public health reasons?
A. No. Although people may become infected with Newcastle disease virus, the resulting disease is typically limited to conjunctivitis. Recovery is usually rapid, and the virus is no longer present in the eye fluids after 4-7 days. Such infections occurred mostly in laboratory workers and vaccination crews. No instance of transmission to humans through handling or consuming of poultry products is known.
Q. When did Newcastle disease last occur in the UK ?
A. The last case was a single outbreak in East Lothian in 2006. Previous to this, there was a single outbreak in Surrey in 2005 and there were 11 outbreaks in 6 counties in 1997, involving the slaughter of over half a million birds.
Q. Can you vaccinate birds against Newcastle disease?
A. Yes. Effective vaccines are available and some poultry are vaccinated routinely.
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