—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 11, 1972
6
Newcastle -
Consumers, poultry producers
and pet bird enthusiasts alike will
suffer substantial economic
losses if exotic Newcastle disease
is not completely eradicated
from the United States, ac
cording to the American
Veterinary Medical Association.
Last spring this viral infection,
deadly to chickens, turkeys, pet
birds and wild birds, seriously
threatened consumer supplies of
poultry products. Secretary of
Agriculture Earl L. Butz
declared the problem a national
emergency on March 14, thus
allowing the federal government
to release funds for a nationwide
eradication program.
Although these measures have
stopped its advance, exotic
Newcastle disease is far from
eradicated. AVMA and other
concerned organizations such as
the American Association of
Avian Pathologists fear that the
government may now relax
recently-imposed import
restrictions or cut back
eradication efforts Unless the
disease is completely purged
from the U S., they point out, a
reservoir of the virus could
develop in wild and exotic pet
bird populations. This would
necessitate continuous vac
cination of domestic birds that
would hamper poultry production
and increase the price of poultry,
poultry products and pet birds.
Total losses to the public could be
staggering.
Concerned over U S Depart
ment of Agriculture actions
apparently aimed at winding
down the Newcastle disease
program, the American
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Veterinary Medical Association
recently urged the secretary of
agriculture to continue intensive
efforts until the disease is
completely eradicated.
In a letter to Secretary Butz
dated November 1, the
association commended USDA
“for the vigorous steps that have
been taken to contain and
ultimately eliminate exotic
Newcastle disease from the
United States.”
Long-Range Benefits
Speaking on behalf of the
nation’s 29,000 veterinarians, the
association called for total
eradication of exotic Newcastle
disease virus from the U.S. In the
long run, a less vigorous program
not only would cost' far
more but also would adversely
affect many more people, ac
cording to the association.
“The American public should
not be asked to live with the
disease,” AVMA declared,
urging Secretary Butz to consider
the long-range benefits of con
tinued efforts aimed at complete
eradication.
“Money spent on the
eradication program will be well
justified in comparison to the
financial impact the disease will
have if it is allowed to spread
across the country,” the
association pointed out.
Ecologic Disaster
Veterinarians of the American
Association of Avian Pathologists
add that the effects of the newly
imported Newcastle disease
virus on America’s wild bird
population are not even known
yet and could lead to disastrous
ecologic disturbances.
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A Threat to All
In a statement developed by its
Committee on Diseases of Wild
and Pet Birds, AAAP has warned
that “the limited natural wildlife
and domestic animal resources of
the U.S. cannot continue to afford
the losses which have resulted
from direct or indirect effects of
uncontrolled introduction of
exotic birds and animals. The
potential dangers to native
wildlife species, domestic
animals and man make it im
perative that more responsible
actions be developed to prevent
further serious assaults upon our
environment.”
AVMA supported the AAAP
position, stating in its letter to
Secretary Butz that, “since
exotic Newcastle disease exists
in many parts of the world, the
vigorous enforcement of im
portation regulations for all
avian species is vital to the
success of keeping the disease out
of the United States.”
Research Needed
The association also called for
a more permanent solution to the
threat, pointing out that “as this
very serious problem presents a
continuing danger to the United
States, increased funding for
exotic Newcastle disease
research is urgently needed.
“A cooperative program with
Mexico to ultimately eliminate
the disease from that country
wouldgive added protection to the
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