UEP and other ag organizations are urging USDA to secure funding to eradicate vND

Virulent Newcastle disease (vND) is killing a growing number of Southern California chickens.  State Veterinarian Annette Jones announced a poultry quarantine for all of Los Angeles County and large portions of San Bernardino and Riverside counties to stop the spread of the disease.  The timing of the announcement came during a panel discussion addressing Disease Control and Eradication at the Pacific Egg and Poultry Association’s 95^th annual convention.

In addition to the latest quarantines, communities in the three counties continue to have mandatory euthanasia decrees for all poultry. Combining past and currently planned euthanasia orders, the disease will have caused the death of 1 million birds. The numbers of birds euthanized has doubled since January 25.  The quarantine requires owners to report sick birds to the Department of Food and Agriculture, allow testing, cease exhibitions, stop shipping and receiving of birds and increase biosecurity.

During the same panel discussion,  UEP Senior VP of Food Safety Regulatory Affairs, Oscar Garrison provided a comprehensive overview of the work conducted by a host of national agriculture organization to urge USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to secure the necessary funding to eradicate this disease.  Dr. Maurice Pitesky from U.C. Davis provided updates to the group about the outbreak and laboratory response.  Sophia Therios provided updates on AEB’s media involvement.