A3O-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 15, 2003 Poultry Industry On The Alert For Exotic Newcastle Disease Local Meeting Addresses END MICHELLE KUNJAPPU Lancaster Farming Staff MANHEIM (Lancaster Co.) The hot news in the poultry in dustry today is the outbreak of Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) in California and now Nevada and Arizona. More than 30 poultry industry representatives gathered at Kreider’s restaurant in Manheim to hear an update from Dr. David Kradel, DVM, adviser to PennAg Industries Association and Penn State, and Jim Shirk, Penn Ag. Newcastle viruses, explained Kradel, differ in disease-produc ing abilities. The three strains in clude low to high pathogenicity. The low pathogenicity Lentogen ic strain, for example, used for vaccines, is endemic to the U.S. and essentially all commercial flocks are vaccinated multiple times for the disease. The highly pathogenic strains of the Newcas tle viruses cause Exotic Newcas tle Disease. The virus, said Kradel, is spread by infected birds, people, equipment, and air. It can sur vive for weeks in a warm, moist environment and indefinitely in frozen materials, however can be killed by disinfectants, heat, dry ness, and sunlight. All avian species can be in fected, however waterfowl are less susceptible. In fact some spe cies, such as parrots and water fowl, can be carriers and shed ding the disease but not showing any signs, said Kradel. Birds may exhibit symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, gasp ing, and nasal discharge, besides a watery, greenish diarrhea. Other, external signs may be the swelling of combs, wattles, eye lids, and head. Nervous signs may be depres sion, tremors, twisted head or neck, paralysis, or sudden death. Hens may produce eggs with a moderate to marked decrease and with thin shells. The disease can be confused with highly pathogenic avian in- fluenza, fowl cholera, laryngotracheitis, fowl pox, and Coryza, according to Kradel. Poultry farms may experience up to 100 percent mortality in unvaccinated flocks 10-20 percent and mortality in vaccinat- ed flocks. It does not, however, pose a threat to public health and doesn’t affect the safe- ty of poultry and egg products. To prevent the virus, avoid contact with game fowl, re- cently acquired par rots, and migrating waterfowl, suggested Kradel. “By not look- ing at milder cases of the disease, we could conceivably miss this for a period of time,” Robert Fulton Fire Co Hay, Straw & Grain Auction Every Thursday 10 am Located on the corner of RT 272 & 222 at Wakefield, PA 717-548-2492 717-548-2371 Randall Ranck Auctioneer 003117-L Consignments Wanted From left, Dr. Dave Kradel, DVM, and Jim Shirk, PennAg Industries Association, spoke about Exotic New castle Disease at a recent meeting. They are joined by Greg Martin, poultry extension agent. he said. From 1973 until now, END was introduced through pet birds each year (except for two years), however was picked up before it spread to commercial flocks.Cali fomia’s most recent outbreak began in game fowl flocks. The discussion in that state, said Kra del, is whether the virus should be contained by vaccinating birds or by massive depopulation. Six commercial flocks were in fected and are now depopulated in California, said Shirk. Besides commercial flocks, backyard flocks have also been depopu lated. The owners of the birds have been compensated fair market value from the USDA. More than 1,500 officials are working on eradication, and more than 9,000 premises have been quarantined, he said. Shirk gave an update on the situation after speaking to Bill Mattos, California Poultry Feder ations Executive Director. According to Shirk, Mattos said, “as an industry, we still feel things jure moving too slowly.” Mattos is hoping to see a shut ATTENTION DAIRY FARMERS 1 A PARTICLE FUME LANCO Dairy Farmers Co-Op Inc. Jgk PROTECTION FOR WELDERS 1373 Beaver Dam Road, Honey Brook, PA 19344 Lanco Wants You To Check Out Our Numbers ICCdgljl fitf 60 Cent Somatic Cell Premium. FfWSll-flllr® Broken in 5 segments down to 400,000. aaaa 35 Cent Over Order Premium 9000 ffSf 50 Cent Hauling -No Stop Charges On 4 Milking Pick-Up ft*? Over 800 Members In PA &MD The world’s most advanced powered air-purifying respirator f<Sf 7-Fieldmen To Cover All Your Needs with the latest in auto-darkening welding technology it. 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We are truly farmers coming and working together 2388 Old LeaCOCk Rd., GordOflVille, PA 17529 315-858-0312-610-273-2536 - 717-993 6808 J 717-7 68-5853 down of all live bird markets, be sides the introduction of laws re quiring permits for anyone hauling poultry. “We do feel that the USDA and California Ag Departments are cooperating well, and their ef forts are essential to stamping this out,” said Mattos, however “we just get a bit frustrated by how slow decisions are sometimes made.” Although everything is being done to keep any birds from moving out of the state, said Mat tos, he wonders how many fight ing cocks are moving under ground throughout the country. Pennsylvania should be careful of underground poultry move ment out of California, since the state “had a lot of (game) birds that they can’t account for that may have traveled east,” he said. “The main things is that we want to keep our biosecurity eyes open. It could be something real ly minor such as a minor drop in egg production but its im portant to get it checked,” ___ Shirk said. END Affects Trade with 34 Countries Nearly two million birds have been destroyed in California and Nevada, where a task force com prised of more than 1,600 federal and state animal health employ ees is working to stop an out break of Exotic Newcastle Dis ease (END) that has infected or exposed six commercial poultry operations and nearly 1,700 non commercial or ‘backyard’ flocks. The END eradication effort, which has been ongoing since Oc tober 2002, was dealt a setback Wednesday, Feb. 5, when Arizo na Department of Agriculture of ficials announced END had spread to a small flock of back yard birds on the Colorado River Indian Tribe’s reservation in western Arizona. A highly contagious foreign viral disease, END affects only poultry and most species of birds, but it does not pose a health threat to humans, food or other animals. Dr. James Lenarduzzi, acting executive director for the Texas Animal Health Commission, the state’s regulatory agency for live stock and poultry health, stated, “Commercial flock movement has been stopped from the affect ed areas. “However, many people with a large yard or country acreage own a few chickens for laying eggs, or for the enjoyment of hav ing ducks, geese or other bird species as yard pets. Students often choose to raise poultry for AQUA COUNTRY IS PART OF MARCH 8 GROWER & MARKETER We introduce a brand-new component of the Lancaster Farming Grower & Marketer section for the March 8 issue. It’s called \f Aqua Country. Pages are scheduled to include reports on farm -ling fish, including a large hatchefy in Franklin County; 's}//' trout hatcheries in Monroe County; a research update on the industry from select universities; and a y ..listing and advertising from major nPßEMßsp«ifcfe;t-*aquacultural suppliers. Watch for it! Hkmr Immce tyaq " We're Here To StA e" CROP INSURANCE If you can’t count on a good crop every year, you may need crop insurance. We 1 would be glad to answer all of your multi-peril crop Insurance questions. For any kind of agri-business coverage call: Weaver Insurance Agency “Insuring in PA, MD & DE” 27 East State St., Quarryvllle, PA 17566 (717) 786-1711 or 1-800-882-1415 Usa Sprout • Roger Slusher • Cindy Beyer • Bob Lee * Sarah Roman»Darryl Graham»Terry Wingert their 4-H or agricultural science class project” Dr. Lenardduzzi, said there were concerns that END-exposed birds could be transported (into another state) by passenger vehi cle, then be introduced into a small, noncommerical flock. “We are urging owners to exer cise extreme caution when pur chasing or moving new birds into their flock. Buyers should always know where the birds originated, and health papers issued by a veterinarian should accompany the shipment,” said Dr. Lenar duzzi. “To keep END from spread ing, everyone also must comply with the quarantine restrictions affecting birds, poultry and poul try products from southern Cali fornia, southern Nevada and western Arizona.” Dr. Lenarduzzi explained that the impact of an END outbreak goes far beyond a state’s borders. At least 34 countries, including Russia, Spain, Brazil, China, and Mexico have suspended the im portation of poultry and poultry products from the states affected by the END outbreak. Bird owners should report un expected death losses, severe ill ness affecting the flock, or signs of disease in birds, including gasping, muscular tremors or pa ralysis to their state Department of Agriculture.
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