Bird owners in Southern California are responding to government officials’ requests related to virulent Newcastle disease (vND) and have reported sick birds. Samples from the flocks, which experienced increased mortality, were tested at the California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory System (CAHFS).  The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, confirmed all findings.

Fourteen additional cases of virulent Newcastle disease were confirmed in backyard chickens in Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino and Ventura counties, California since August 24.  This brings the total count to 131 cases of vND in backyard birds in California since the outbreak began in May.   The Disease has not been found in commercial poultry in the U.S. since 2003.

Click here for the latest USDA update.  Read more about the actions that have been taken by the California Department of Food & Agriculture in “CDFA details virulent Newcastle disease response,” from Feedstuffs.