Backyard chicken keepers, beware.
A condition called virulent Newcastle disease that affects wild birds and domestic poultry is back in the United States and poses a potentially fatal risk to Colorado coops, according to veterinary experts at Colorado State University.
The disease recently has been diagnosed in backyard chickens in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties in California, but local vets want to make sure chicken keepers are aware and take steps to protect their flocks.
“All bird owners play an important role in disease prevention in Colorado,” said Keith Roehr, state veterinarian. “Basic biosecurity and simple disease prevention strategies can significantly reduce disease risks to your birds and protect the egg and poultry producers in our state.”
Virulent Newcastle disease is a contagious viral condition affecting the respiratory, nervous and digestive systems of fowl. The disease is spread through direct contact with infected birds’ droppings or respiratory discharge.
“Because the virus can live for a long time in the environment and can be spread by objects such as shoes, clothing and equipment, other flocks in close proximity can quickly become infected,” read a post by Ragan Adams, coordinator of the veterinary extension specialist group at CSU. “The disease is almost always fatal, and many birds die suddenly before developing observable symptoms.”
The disease doesn’t create a food safety concern, experts said, but a large outbreak in the United States could hurt poultry health and the economy.
In 2002, the disease spread in California to commercial poultry from flocks of illegally imported game fowl, CSU said. More than 3.5 million birds at about 2,100 sites in the nation were affected, which cost the federal government upwards of $180 million and took more than a year to eradicate.
Experts urge bird owners to watch for these virulent Newcastle symptoms:
- Sneezing, gasping, nasal discharge, coughing
- Green, watery diarrhea
- Depression, muscular tremors, droopy wings, walking in circles and completely paralysis
- Partial to complete drop in egg production or thin-shelled eggs
- Swelling around the eyes and neck.
Here’s how you can protect your flock:
- Limit visitors
- Wash hands and change clothes after handling birds
- Clean and disinfect tools and equipment
- Isolate birds returning from shows
- Communicate early and often with state health officials as needed.
Flock owners who have questions or concerns about the health of their birds can contact the Colorado State Veterinarian’s Office at 303-869-9130 or CSU’s Avian Health Program at 970-297-4008.
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