Newcastle disease: Outbreaks in the UK
Newcastle Disease in East Lothian, October 2006
Newcastle disease was confirmed on 13 October 2006. The final restrictions imposed on the movement of poultry, poultry products and litter following confirmation of Newcastle Disease (Pigeon Variant) in East Lothian, were lifted on 18 November 2006.
Newcastle Disease July 2005 - Lessons to be learned report
In July 2005 the UK confirmed the presence of Newcastle disease upon a holding of pheasants in Surrey. The outbreak was successfully controlled through the application of measures set out in European Community law using policies and procedures outlined in the Exotic Animal Disease Generic Contingency Plan. The UK’s disease free status was regained on 23 January 2006.
A project was established to identify lessons to be learned from the experience in order to improve Defra’s emergency preparedness for an outbreak of exotic animal disease. The Newcastle disease lessons learned report summarises the events of the July outbreak and makes 43 recommendations for future action based round the themes of: People, Communications, Policies, Structures & Organisation, and Delivery & Systems
The implementation of the report’s recommendations will be monitored closely by the Contingency Planning Division of the State Veterinary Service through the Emergency Preparedness for Exotic Animal Disease programme.
- Newcastle Disease 2005 -
Lessons to be learned report
(1 MB - Please note this is a large file).
Outbreak in 1997
Newcastle Disease last occurred in 11 cases in 1997, four in broiler chickens and seven in turkey rearing flocks, between January and April. All the birds on the infected premises were slaughtered, the carcases destroyed and the premises cleansed and disinfected. The movement of poultry and poultry products within the protection zone (a 3km radius) and surveillance zone (based on a minimum 10km radius) around each infected premises, was prohibited in accordance with EU Directive 92/66/EEC.
The surveillance zone movement restrictions were maintained for at least 30 days after depopulation and preliminary cleansing and disinfection of each infected premises. In some cases, the disease had taken several weeks to spread through a unit and become apparent as a significant cause of abnormality or increased mortality. The most frequent clinical signs reported in the infected flocks were lameness, paralysis of the wings (wing droop), ataxia or recumbency. Diarrhoea was reported as a significant sign in only three outbreaks. Morbidity/ mortality in affected flocks varied from less than 5% in some turkey flocks to more than 30% in the worst affected broiler chicken flocks.
The C1 strain of virus isolated in these outbreaks was the same as that occurring in mainland Europe in 1996. It seems likely that in some cases infection was spread by the movement of people or equipment between infected farms, in some cases for the purpose of thinning out the flocks of growing birds. The pattern of spread highlighted the need for strict hygiene procedures when entering or moving equipment between poultry units.
Further information
Page last modified:
7 February, 2008