Exotic Newcastle Disease Eradication Program in the United States

Abstract

Exotic Newcastle disease was first diagnosed in two unrelated cases in the United States: in August 1970 in a pet-shop bird in New York City; and in chickens in El Paso County, Texas. The virus was later isolated in Massachusetts, New Mexico, Florida, California, Connecticut, Puerto Rico, Illinois, Arizona, Georgia, and Colorado. The probable source in most outbreaks was imported pet birds, especially psittacine and mynah birds. Secondary outbreaks in domestic poultry, spread from primary introductions via imported birds, occurred in California and are suspected to have occurred in Florida. Outbreaks in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona were probably caused by virus transported via infected or exposed game chickens or on the clothing of Mexican day laborers. Federal and state quarantines have been placed on infected areas to combat spread. On March 14, 1972, the Secretary of Agriculture declared an emergency because of the threat posed to the entire U.S. poultry industry by exotic Newcastle disease. In a program to eradicate the disease, 9,677,457 birds in 910 flocks had been destroyed in California, Florida, Arizona, Colorado, and Texas by December 31, 1972, with indemnity payments of $18,610,071 from federal funds and $259,400 from state funds. In addition, a federally sponsored vaccination program was carried out in the quarantined area in California. Exotic Newcastle disease in the United States is part of a worldwide pandemic beginning in 1967 in all major poultry-producing and bird-growing countries.