As backyard chicken production grows, the recent diagnosis of Newcastle disease in backyard chickens in California’s Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties is prompting warnings in Colorado.
“Because the virus can live for a long time in the environment and can be spread by objects such as shoes, clothing and equipment, other flocks in close proximity can quickly become infected,” reads a post by Ragan Adams, coordinator of the veterinary extension specialist group at CSU. “The disease is almost always fatal, and many birds die suddenly before developing observable symptoms.”
Source: The Denver Post, June 5, 2018. Link.
“All bird owners play an important role in disease prevention in Colorado,” said Keith Roehr, state veterinarian. “Basic biosecurity and simple disease prevention strategies can significantly reduce disease risks to your birds and protect the egg and poultry producers in our state.”
Also see: Virulent Newcastle disease confirmed in U.S. backyard flock, Animal Health Digest, May 22, 2017. Link.
INSIGHTS: Experts say Newcastle disease doesn’t create a food safety concern, but a large outbreak in the United States could hurt poultry health and the economy. Veterinary teams, retailers, feed dealers and animal health pros all need to help poultry producers realize the importance of biosecurity to prevent rapid spread of this disease.