March 28, 2011

Israel faces Newcastle disease

Eight outbreaks of Newcastle disease (ND) have been discovered in the first two weeks of this month in Israel.

The veterinary authority sent Follow Up report No. 1 dated March 24 to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

The report describes eight new outbreaks of ND starting from March 3 to 15. Several of the outbreaks involved individual birds (including a peacock and pigeons) or small groups but three were at commercial farms. In all, 193,036 birds were involved, of which 25,018 showed symptoms and 4,616 died. The remaining 188,415 have been destroyed.

Some outbreaks are connected epidemiologically through persons or equipment that passed from one farm to another, according to the report.