Newcastle Disease
Questions and answers
Background to the disease
- Q1. What is Newcastle Disease (ND)? Which birds does it affect?
- Q2. Is it connected to avian flu?
- Q3. How is it spread?
- Q4. Can humans get it?
- Q5. Is it restricted to avian species
- Q6. What are the signs?
Controls
- Q7. How is the disease controlled?
- Q8. Is there routine use of a vaccination?
- Q9. What happens if disease is confirmed?
- Q10. Is a general movements ban put in place?
- Q11. How were culled birds disposed of?
- Q12. What are the controls in a Protection Zone (PZ)?
- Q13. What are the controls in a Surveillance Zone (SZ)?
- Q14. Can poultry be moved into the Surveillance Zone (SZ)?
- Q15. What happens now within the Infected Area?
Compensation
- Q16. Do farmers get compensation for birds killed to control the disease?
- Q17. What documents do stakeholders have to produce in order to support a claim for compensation?
Controlling this outbreak
- Q18. What is the Government's strategy?
- Q19. When did investigations into this outbreak start?
- Q20. Has the culling finished?
- Q21. How many business are affected by the controls you have put in place?
- Q22. What are the views of the industry on what you should do?
- Q23. Where did the disease come from?
- Q24. Has the disease been found, or is it likely to be, anywhere else?
- Q25. What is being done to find out?
- Q26. What would be done if it was?
- Q27. Can vaccination be used to control the outbreak?
- Q28. If I am considering vaccination of game birds what should I do next?
- Q29. Has the Government been caught hopping or is it ready to control the disease?
- Q30. What should farmers do now?
- Q31. What about free range poultry?
- Q32. What help has Defra received from experts?
Consumer issues
- Q33. Is it safe to eat poultry or game?
- Q34. Is it safe to eat birds that have been vaccinated?
- Q35. Will the pheasants from the infected estate go into the food chain?
Trade issues
- Q36. Will there be a ban on our exports?
- Q37. If so, how long will it last?
- Q38. What will it affect - live birds or eggs too? What about ready made meals?
- Q39. What is the Government doing to get any ban lifted quickly or reduce its effect?
- Q40. Are jobs at risk?
- Q41. How does the outbreak affect imports of poultry, game birds and their meat into the UK?
- Q42. The situation in France
- Q43. Why have Defra not banned imports from France?
- Q44. I am bringing my pet bird / captive birds to the UK. How does this affect me?
- Q45. Are Birds checked for disease after they have been imported?
- Q46. What about other measures to increase our protection from French birds – such as quarantine or enhanced checks?
- Q47. What effect will the outbreak have on local businesses?
- Q48. Is the countryside still open?
- Q49. What about other non-poultry farms and shows?
- Q50. What about the outbreak of Newcastle disease in Botswana. Have Defra banned imports from there?
Wild birds
EU Co-financing
Background to the disease
Q1. What is Newcastle Disease (ND)? Which birds does it affect?
A. Newcastle disease is a highly contagious disease of birds caused by a paramyxo virus. 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.
Q2. Is it connected to avian flu?
A. No. This disease is different from Avian Influenza and is caused by a totally different virus.
A. The virus is present in the exhaled air, secretions and faeces of infected birds, both before they show signs of illness and while they are convalescent. Spread is mainly by movement of birds and manure, and things such as people, vehicles etc which are contaminated by manure.
A. The Health Protection Agency has confirmed that Newcastle Disease virus does not pose a significant threat to human health even when people handle birds known to be infected. Close contact is required for transmission to man. The virus is spread via aerosols from infected birds and can occasionally cause conjunctivitis, fever and flu like symptoms. The symptoms only last a few days and there are no long term effects on health. There is no risk of human infection from poultry meat.
Q5. Is it restricted to avian species?
A. Yes. It is a disease of birds and poultry.
A. Virulent Newcastle Disease virus infections are most likely to cause some or all of the following signs in poultry:
- Respiratory signs: gasping and coughing
- Nervous signs: drooping wings, dragging legs, twisting of the head and neck, ataxia or circling, depression, anorexia, complete paralysis
- Partial or complete cessation of egg production
- Eggs are misshapen, rough-shelled, thin-shelled and contain watery albumen
- Greenish watery diarrhoea
- Swelling of the tissues around the eyes and in the neck
- The proportion of birds which become ill or die depends on the virulence of the virus strain, degree of vaccine immunity, environmental conditions, and condition of the flock.
Turkeys with the disease show mainly respiratory and nervous signs.
Infection in ducks and geese is usually sub-clinical: i.e. the infected birds do not show any signs of illness.
Controls
Q7. How is the disease controlled?
A. Main aspects of disease control:
(i) Infected Premises
Prohibition on movements of animals, litter, vehicles and people into or out of the infected place. Cleansing and disinfection of premises and vehicles. Schedule 3 of the Animal Health Act 1981 provides for the compulsory slaughter of diseased birds and birds which are suspected of being infected or which have been exposed to the infection of disease. Eggs must also be destroyed.(ii) Infected Area
Keepers of poultry/ Hatcheries/ Slaughterhouses:
Movement restrictions on birds and Hatching Eggs within a 3 km and 10 km radius. Birds must be kept in their living quarters. Markets, fairs and shows are prohibited.
Waste disposal contractors: Used litter or poultry manure may not be removed or spread.
Hauliers: Cleansing and disinfection of any vehicle used for the conveyance of birds, carcases, offal or feathers, or eggs.(iii) Other Control Measures
The Secretary of State may order the vaccination of any species of birds in a vaccination area.iv) Minimum duration of controls
An infected premises may not be re-stocked until at least 21 days after disinfection. Protection zone controls apply for at least 21 days after the cleansing and disinfection of the infected premises and when they become part of the Surveillance Zone. Surveillance Zone controls apply for at least 30 days after cleansing and disinfection.
Q8. Is there routine use of vaccination?
A. Large-scale breeder and layer producers and some broiler producers routinely vaccinate their birds against Newcastle Disease. Few game flocks are routinely vaccinated.
Q9. What happens if disease is confirmed?
A. When disease is confirmed restrictions are imposed on the infected place and movement restrictions and biosecurity measures are enforced. The birds on the premises are slaughtered. In addition, a Declaratory Order is made declaring an Infected Area and establishing a Surveillance Zone of 10 km and a smaller Protection Zone around the infected premises to impose restriction to prevent the spread of disease. The State Veterinary Service trace all known contacts connected with the infected birds.
Q10. Is a general movements ban put in place?
A. Movements are restricted in the Protection and Surveillance Zones, to help prevent the spread of disease.
Q11. How were culled birds disposed of?
A. They were incinerated in a commercial animal incinerator.
Q12. What are the controls in a Protection Zone?
A. The following principles apply within the protection zone and for at least 21 days after the preliminary cleansing and disinfection of the infected premises (after which the Protection Zone becomes part of the Surveillance Zone).
The occupier of a premises containing poultry must ensure that:
(a) Poultry are kept in their living quarters or somewhere where they can be isolated;
(b) there is an appropriate means of disinfection at the entrance and exits of the premises;
(c) poultry and hatching eggs are not moved from the premises except under a licence issued by a veterinary inspector -
(i) for the purpose of transport for immediate slaughter to a designated slaughterhouse, or
(ii) in the case of day old chicks or ready-to-lay pullets, to premises within the surveillance zone on which there are no other poultry, and
(iii) in the case of hatching eggs to a designated hatchery, subject to the eggs and their packing being disinfected before despatch;
(d) used litter and poultry manure are not removed or
spread.
No one should move any poultry, eggs or carcases within the zone, except
through the zone on a major highway or railway.
Fairs, markets, shows or other gathering of poultry or other birds should not be held.
Q13. What are the controls in a Surveillance Zone?
A. The following principles apply within the surveillance zone for at least 30 days after the preliminary cleansing and disinfection of the infected premises.
The occupier of a premise must ensure that:
(a) poultry are not moved from the premises out of the zone except under a licence issued by a veterinary inspector for the purpose of transport direct to a designated slaughterhouse outside the surveillance zone;
(b) hatching eggs are not moved from the premises out of the zone except under a licence issued by a veterinary inspector for the purpose of transport direct to a designated hatchery and subject to the eggs and their packing being disinfected before dispatch; and
(c) used litter and poultry manure are not moved out of the zone.
Fairs, markets, shows or other gatherings of poultry or other birds should not be held.
Q14. Can poultry be moved into the Surveillance Zone (SZ)?
A. The overall assessment is that the risk of causing new outbreaks of Newcastle Disease if poultry are moved from outside the single declared Infected Area into the Surveillance Zone of the Infected Area on or after 26 July 2005 is low. A key part of this is that there has been no evidence of lateral spread from the Infected Premises. Movements of poultry into the Surveillance Zone may therefore be permitted subject to the risk management measures set out below. These are considered proportionate to the risk involved.
The risk management measures are:
- that the occupier of the premises of destination provides a declaration that as far as he is aware there has been no disease in poultry on the premises in the past 56 days and that any existing poultry on the premises appear healthy
- that any vehicle delivering poultry from outside the Surveillance Zone to premises inside the SZ has been cleansed and disinfected before carrying any poultry
- that the vehicle must travel direct to the premises receiving poultry in the Surveillance Zone and make no other drop offs of poultry in the zone. Subject to existing legislation the vehicle may make other drop-offs of poultry before entering the Surveillance Zone. The drop-off in the zone must be the last one
- the wheels and wheel arches and any contamination on the outside of the vehicle should be dealt with before the vehicle leaves the premises
Any receptacle used for the carriage of poultry shall be either cleansed and disinfected before and after use or if of disposable construction shall be new and unused for previous carriage of poultry and disposed of after use.
Additionally, it is recommended that poultry are vaccinated before being moved into the Surveillance Zone.
Limited movements of poultry for welfare reasons may be permitted within the Surveillance Zone. Similar risk management measures to those listed above must be undertaken.
Anyone who wishes to move poultry under the restricted conditions should contact the Licensing Section at the State Veterinary Service Animal Health Office at Reigate.
Q15. What happens now within the Infected Area?
A. Intra-Community trade - Disease Control Directive 92/66:
(a) Article 9.3 of the Directive requires Protection Zone measures to continue for at least 21 days after carrying out the preliminary cleansing and disinfection on the Infected Premise. The Protection Zone then becomes part of the Surveillance Zone.
(b) Under Article 9.5, Surveillance Zone measures must continue for at least 30 days after preliminary cleansing and disinfection.
(c) After removal of control measures in the Infected Area, intra-Community trade can take place in live poultry, hatching eggs and poultry products from the whole of UK.
Summary
The minimum period until resumption of trade from infected area is 30 days after preliminary cleansing and disinfection - unless the European Commission agrees to reduce the duration of the surveillance zone measures.
Exports to Third Countries – Office des Internationale des Epizooties (OIE) Terrestrial Animal Health Code
(a) Under Article 2.7.13.2 of the 2004 Code, a country can be considered free of Newcastle Disease 6 months after the slaughter of the last affected animal for countries in which a stamping out policy is practiced with or without vaccination.
(b) Article 2.7.13.3 refers to freedom of an infected zone at least 21 days after confirmation of the last case and completion of stamping out and disinfection - this criterion can only be used to declare freedom of an infected zone and cannot be used to declare country freedom for the purpose of trade.
Summary
Exports to third countries may take place if commodities meet the import requirements of the importing country. For those countries that are willing to accept certification of area freedom, certification can be provided for commodities from the infected area after removal of control measures under EU Directive 92/66, i.e. at least 30 days after preliminary cleansing and disinfecting. Some third countries will require additional area clearance and/or greater time periods. For those countries that require export health certification of country freedom, this assurance can be provided after country freedom has been declared to OIE, that is 6 months after completion of slaughter of last case.
Compensation
Q16. Do farmers get compensation for birds killed to control the disease?
A. The Animal Health Act 1981 provides for compensation for non-diseased poultry slaughtered during an outbreak of Newcastle Disease. Compensation is not payable for slaughtered poultry which have Newcastle Disease. Compensation is based on the value of the bird immediately before slaughter. Birds that are not known to be infected are deemed to be healthy and compensation will be payable in respect of them.
Q17. What documents do stakeholders have to produce in order to support a claim for compensation?
A: Payment of compensation by the UK authorities may be subject to on-the-spot audits by the EU. These may involve verification checks on documentation. Annex V of EC Regulation 348/2005 lists the supporting documentation required. For Stakeholders who make compensation claims the relevant documents are
- original holding registers
- copies of invoices of acquisition and replacement (if applicable)
of the
slaughtered birds, and - copies of purchase or sales invoices during the three months prior
to
slaughter.
Controlling this outbreak
Q18. What is the Government’s strategy?
A. To stamp out and eradicate the disease in poultry; to protect the welfare of birds affected by the disease control measures; to encourage disease prevention through biosecurity and adoption of vaccination and to reduce the impact on international trade and the rural economy, leading to restoration of the UK's Newcastle Disease free status as soon as possible.
Q19. When did investigations into this outbreak start?
A. On Monday 11 July suspicions were notified to the local office of the State Veterinary Service. A visit was made the same day, restrictions were placed on the premises, and samples for analysis were taken and despatched to the Veterinary Laboratories Agency at Weybridge, arriving there on the same evening. The initial, positive blood sample results were available the next day. Further test results on Friday 15 July meant that the presence of Newcastle disease was confirmed.
Q20. Has the culling finished?
A. The cull finished on Saturday 23 July. 10,240 pheasants were caught and humanely slaughtered. As these birds were all free-flying, a small number may have escaped into the wild. However, our activity in this outbreak has always been one of reducing risk as much as possible rather than removing all risk. The risk of these remaining birds spreading disease is considered to be very small and there is no evidence of disease spread out of the Infected Premise. Surveillance for clinical symptoms will continue for some time. Preliminary cleansing and disinfection of the Infected Premise has been completed. The owner will be responsible for final cleansing and disinfection.
Q21. How many businesses are affected by the controls you have put in place?
A. There are several poultry premises within the infected area. The State Veterinary Service is looking at each of these. No birds on the farms in the Protection Zone have shown clinical sign of disease, and surveillance is continuing.
Q22. What are the views of the industry on what you should do?
A. Industry have been kept informed of the suspicion and then confirmation of Newcastle Disease. Defra has kept them informed of the situation and sought their views. Industry support the action taken by Defra as they wish the outbreak to be eradicated as quickly as possible, to reduce the likelihood of the spread of the disease.
Q23. Where did the disease come from?
A. Preliminary epidemiological reports identified two possible sources of the infection. The birds on the infected premise had been imported from France and so it was possible that they had first become infected there. The second possibility was that the pheasants had been infected once they had arrived in England from contact with wild birds. It is known that wild birds can carry the virus responsible for Newcastle Disease.
Q24. Has the disease been found, or is it likely to be, anywhere else?
A. No clinical signs have been yet reported from anywhere else. The French authorities have confirmed that they have found evidence of Newcastle Disease virus on a farm in the Loire Atlantique "Département" of France. The French authorities have taken decisive action to control the disease and have reported the incident to EU Members States and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
Q25. What is being done to find out?
A. The State Veterinary Service is tracing and finding details locally of all imports of pheasants in the last 2 months and movements related to the infected premises. The information will help give an indication of any likely disease spread.
Q26. What would be done if it was?
A. If disease is found elsewhere, similar restrictions would also be put into place there and investigations would be undertaken by the State Veterinary Service.
Q27. Can vaccination be used to control the outbreak?
A. Voluntary vaccination currently takes place in the UK, with many commercial birds vaccinated, as licensed vaccines are freely available for use in poultry and pigeons. The Secretary of State may, by notice, require the vaccination of any species of poultry in a vaccination area, if she feels that it is appropriate for as long as she thinks fit. The area in which vaccination is required would be specified in the notice.
Q28. If I am considering vaccination of game birds what should I do next?
A. Before vaccination is considered you are strongly advised to discuss the issue with your veterinary surgeon. They will be able to provide specialist advice on all issues including:
- Which vaccine to use
- Method of administration
- Practicability of administration
- Possible complicating factors such as other disease problems that may be present
- Immune status of the birds, including whether the parent stock have been vaccinated, or if a vaccination programme has already been started
- Whether the course of the vaccination can be completed
Effective vaccination of game birds is difficult and requires specialist knowledge and experience. If it is not done correctly then at best, money and effort will be wasted, and at worst, the health of the flock may be damaged.
For further information the following websites are of value:
Q29. Has the Government been caught hopping or is it ready to control the disease?
A. Absolutely not. The Government implemented its Contingency Plan immediately once there was suspicion of disease.
Q30. What should farmers do now?
A. Farmers need to ensure that they are vigilant looking for signs of disease and ensure that they report any suspicions to their local Animal Health Divisional Office. All keepers of birds should ensure they maintain high standards of biosecurity and consider whether they wish to vaccinate in consultation with their veterinary advisors.
Q31. What about free range poultry?
A. The Diseases of Poultry Order 2003 requires poultry in the Protection Zone to be kept in their living quarters or such other places where they can be isolated. If there is a requirement, imposed by an official vet, for free-range birds to be kept in their living quarters or such other place where they can be isolated, they and their eggs can continue to be regarded as free range.
Q32.What help has Defra received from experts?
A. Throughout the investigations and efforts to control the disease the Department has used the best available science and experts to underpin its work. It has made full use of the Veterinary Laboratories Agency - the reference laboratory for the UK on ND - and is ensuring all necessary serological and virological tests are being done. Other experts have also been enlisted - for example, from the Central Science Laboratory, on pheasants to advise on the cull. The Department’s Chief Scientific Advisor has also been asked for his views on the test results and the independent Science Advisory Committee has been briefed. The Department’s ND experts group is meeting almost daily. Overall, the Department believes this has been a highly professional effort.
Consumer issues
Q33. Is it safe to eat poultry or game?
A. Yes
Q34. Is it safe to eat birds that have been vaccinated?
A. Yes. Many poultry are already routinely vaccinated for Newcastle disease in any event.
Q35. Will the pheasants from the infected estate go into the food chain?
A. No. Pheasants from the infected estate will be culled and incinerated.
Trade issues
Q36. Will there be a ban on our exports?
A. There is no reason for a ban on UK exports. The EU Commission has
told the UK and other EU Member States that it is satisfied with the measures
we have taken so far and that it does not envisage taking safeguard measures.
We are disappointed that some third countries have suspended imports from
the UK of live birds, hatching eggs, poultry meat and poultry meat products.
We are in touch with the authorities in those countries which represent
key export markets to explain why we consider this action to be unwarranted.
We have asked our British Embassies and other Posts to contact overseas
veterinary authorities to discuss any concerns they may have.
Q37. If so, how long will it last?
A. There is no reason for a ban on UK exports.
Q38. What will it affect – live birds only or eggs too? What about ready made meals?
A. Intra-Community trade in birds and hatching eggs takes place on the basis of EU export health certificates which give area freedom from Newcastle Disease. Trade in birds which originate from outside the restricted area can continue. We have immediately put measures in place to ensure exports do not originate from within the restricted area.
Poultry meat and poultry meat products, table eggs, ready meals etc are traded within the EU on commercial documents. Trade from outside the restricted area will continue as before.
Export health certificates to third country destinations are required for most commodities relating to birds, including hatching eggs, poultry meat, poultry products, table eggs, ready meals etc. The requirements depend on the third country’s import requirements. Divisional Veterinary Managers have been authorised to issue export health certificates to third country destinations provided they are satisfied that any assurance about Newcastle Disease can be signed. In other words, if a third country requires area freedom from Newcastle Disease the exports originating from outside the affected area or areas can continue.
Q39. What is the Government doing to get any ban lifted quickly or reduce its effect?
A. We are keeping in close touch with the EU Commission and other Member States about the control measures we have put in place.
A. It is too early to say what the wider impacts on industry will be. Clearly our objective is to manage this situation efficiently and effectively and to minimise adverse impacts on the poultry industry.
Q41. How does the outbreak affect imports of poultry, game birds and their meat into the UK?
There are no additional restrictions on importing poultry, game birds or their meat into the UK due to the outbreak of Newcastle disease. The conditions for importing birds into the UK are available on the International Trade pages of this website.
Birds which are sourced from areas in the EU or countries outside the EU which are affected by a disease outbreak cannot be exported. Please check with your suppliers if you have any concerns.
The French authorities confirmed Newcastle disease in the Loire Atlantique on 27 July. On 19 July they reported the case as highly suspected and, as a precautionary measure, culled all pheasants and partridges on the premises. Defra has been working closely with the French authorities and to date, the French have been proactive in managing risks to this country from their exports.
Q43. Why have Defra not banned imports from France?
There is no more justification for a complete ban on French imports than there is for a complete ban on UK exports. Trade in animals and products within the EU is controlled by Community law which aims to prevent the introduction of disease and requires us to take effective measures to contain disease outbreaks. These measures includes ensuring that animals within a certain zone around the infected premises are not moved to prevent the risk of spreading the disease.
In accordance with this the French authorities have restricted exports of birds from Department of Loire-Atlantique, where the affected premises is located.
We, the French, and other EU countries where Newcastle Disease is present are taking action to prevent the further spread of disease, in line with Community law.
Q44. I am bringing my pet bird/ captive birds to the UK. How does this affect me?
The disease outbreaks in France and England should not affect you, unless you are bringing a bird from the restricted areas in France (please see Q39 for details). For information on the import conditions for captive birds please see the imports pages on the International Trade website.
If you are importing a pet or captive bird to the zone in the UK which is effected by the restrictions, please contact your local SVS office to enquire if you will be subject to any additional animal health measures due to the outbreak.
Q45. Are Birds checked for disease after they have been imported?
A. Poultry from other Member States may be subject to random checks at the premises of destination, unless there is reason to suspect a risk of disease in their place of origin
Poultry arriving in the UK from third countries must enter the EU through an approved Border Inspection Post (BIP). All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks and a number of animals in each consignment undergo a physical check. Community Law does not stipulate the actual number of birds and poultry that should be subjected to individual clinical examination but requires that the official veterinarian must carry out a physical check on animals presented at the border inspection post. The clinical examination consists of observation of the state of health and behavior of the entire group or of a representative number of animals.
Q46. What about other measures to increase our protection from French birds – such as quarantine or enhanced checks?
A. There is no need to take any additional protection measures at this stage. The French authorities have taken sufficient action to prevent further exports of birds from the Department of Loire-Atlantique, where the affected premises is located and 4 other premises in the Department of Vendee.
Q47. What effect will the outbreak have on local businesses?
A. The disease is confined to a single estate. Unless there is a spread of disease we would not expect there to be any significant impact on the local economy.
Q48. Is the countryside still open?
A. Yes. Surrey County Council have now reopened the one public right of way on the estate temporarily closed because of the outbreak. The Government is clear that there will be no blanket restrictions on access to the countryside. Current veterinary advice is that the risk of rights of way users and other visitors to the countryside spreading this disease is very small indeed. Access to rights of way and other forms of public access will be restricted only where there is clear evidence that it would undermine measures to eradicate an outbreak of the disease.
Q49. What about other non-poultry farms and shows?
A. Good biosecurity is always important. Farmers should still remain vigilant.Biosecurity guidance is available on the Defra website. Our advice to show organizers is not to allow pheasants and partridges, and any birds that have been in contact with these species, to participate in shows. Gatherings of pheasants and partridges carry a real but unquantifiable risk of spreading any Newcastle Disease infection.
Q50. What about the outbreak of Newcastle disease in Botswana. Have Defra banned imports from there?
A. Defra officials have agreed with the European Commission that we do not need to take any additional safeguard measures due to the outbreak of Newcastle disease in Botswana. We are satisfied that the export health certification requirement protects us from importing the disease and neither we or the Commission see any need for banning imports.
Wild birds
Q51. Do wild birds present a risk?
A. It is accepted that wild birds, particularly migratory species, present constant background risk. This risk is low and the policy is that this cannot be minimised further by the killing or control of birds. Vaccination is common by commercial keepers and therefore reduces the risk of infection from a wild bird source.
Q52. Does the current outbreak change this risk?
A. No. There is one infected premises and no evidence of any local spread nor of lateral transmission between the pheasants on the infected premises. We do not intend to control wild birds.
EU Co-financing
Q53. Are we able to claim costs back from the EU?
A.Yes. EC Regulations 348/2005 and 424/90 give provision for co-financing. A specific decision has to be adopted by the Commission. No specific decision has yet been adopted and we are pursuing this with the Commission.
Q54. When are we going to claim from the EU?
A.An official request for re-imbursement must be submitted to the Commission within 60 calendar days from the date of notification to the UK of the EU specific decision establishing financial support.
Page last modified:
01 August 2005