February 6, 2025

 

Sweden now free of Newcastle disease

 

 

In January 2025, Sweden was officially declared free of Newcastle disease following a successful eradication campaign.

 

In October 2024, an outbreak of the disease occurred in a commercial flock of 18,000 laying hens in Ödeshög, a municipality in southern Sweden.

 

To combat the outbreak, Swedish authorities implemented stringent control measures. These included:

 

    - Zoning and movement restrictions: Establishing restricted zones around the affected area to prevent the spread of the virus;

 

    - Surveillance: Intensive monitoring of both the infected flock and surrounding areas to detect any further cases;

 

    - Depopulation and sanitation: Culling the infected birds and thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the premises;

 

    - Traceability: Tracking the movement of birds and products to ensure no further spread of the disease.

 

The Swedish government also provided financial support to affected farmers to help them recover from losses incurred during the outbreak.

 

The response by Swedish veterinary authorities ensured that the outbreak was contained and eradicated within a few months. By January 2025, intensive surveillance confirmed that no new cases had emerged, allowing the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) to declare Sweden free of Newcastle disease.

- aviNews