VIRULENT NEWCASTLE DISEASE SPREADS TO OTHER DISTRICTS

December 23, 2008

Virulent Newcastle Disease, a very contagious bird disease, has spread to backyard poultry in other areas in the Cayo District; it has also spread to the Belize and Stann Creek Districts. Doctor Victor Gongora is the Director of Animal Health at the Belize Agricultural Health Authority.

Doctor Victor Gongora; Director of Animal Health, Belize Agricultural Health Authority

“The Virulent Newcastle Disease was first confirmed in Belize in November in a poultry farm in Spanish Lookout. Subsequently in spread to neighboring farms within the same restricted area. We had a quarantine and we controlled movements within Spanish Lookout but then we found out that the virus was similar to a pet bird isolation done in California when they had the big outbreak in the United States. We have done further samples in the United States and they have also shown that the situation in Belize is similar to that which occurred back then. We then assumed that the virus probably got to Spanish Lookout farm through wild birds because the birds in that particular area were not vaccinated. This made them totally susceptible and succumbed to the virulent virus.”

Doctor Gongora gives an idea of the control measures that must be taken.

Doctor Victor Gongora; Director of Animal Health, Belize Agricultural Health Authority

“Once you had that infected flock, neighboring flocks would normally get infected. One of the first control measures would be to completely destroy all the birds within the 3 kilometer area. The quarantine would also be cleaned and disinfected. It will not be easy to destroy all the birds because we do not yet have a final compensation program. It is very difficult to destroy birds that look healthy and not compensate. The affected farmers did agree to the destruction of the birds.”

Public health is also a major issue of concern for residents of the affected areas.

Doctor Victor Gongora; Director of Animal Health, Belize Agricultural Health Authority

“The public has shown concern about the public health aspect of it. They have been asking if they can get the disease. No it is not a human adapted virus. It is totally for birds; humans only get a mild eye infection if they are handling the virus. The possibility is only there if you are handling sick birds or the live vaccine. Our experience has shown that of all the people working with us handling a lot of sick birds, only 2 people reports of people getting an eye infection. There were mild eye infections.”

Doctor Gongora says that the spread of the virus will be studied and backyard poultry will be vaccinated so that we can be declared free of the virus in three years. Gongora also says that the disease is not affecting the supply of turkey.

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