After more than two years of work by USDA and the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the quarantine in Southern California due to VirulentNewcastle Disease (vND) has been lifted. Even with extensive testing taking place, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has not confirmed any new cases since February 1.
To guard against the risk of future outbreaks, the prevention plan led by the California Avian Health Education Network (CAHEN) will focus on disease monitoring and continual support for biosecurity training. The USDA announcement states, “We know that biosecurity practices work – they were essential in minimizing vND spread to commercial farms in the area and we’ve used them successfully in other poultry disease outbreaks. But these practices must be followed by anyone who owns or handles poultry. Southern California’s many backyard and commercial poultry owners alike must remain vigilant in protecting the health of their birds by ensuring biosecurity protocols are being followed every day, every time. Education, training and outreach will ensure backyard bird owners and both feed and pet stores have the information they need to keep birds healthy.”
