NEWCASTLE DISEASE in Surrey

[RabbitHawker]

Niel Forbes has recommended vaccinating all BOP and parrots withing a 50 mile ridius of the outbreak near Guildford. There is no licensed vaccine, but a pigeon vaccine has been used in the past. Contact your vet for details, but the vaccine comes in multidose vials so you mayneed to get a few birds together. There is a high risk that the infection has spread much further than has currently been realised.
Chris

[Shaun Byrne]

http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=4995&highlight=&sid=eeb4a33479f456 2620186bb6362aa690

[Debbie]

Neil Forbes has kindly granted permission for this to be taken from his own website.

Debbs



18 July 2005 - Newcastle Disease Outbreak

In light of the recently reported outbreak of Newcastle Disease in Surrey, the Avian and Exotic Department at Great Western Referrals has produced some information below about the disease and the risks present to your own birds.
Newcastle disease is caused by a virus belonging to the paramyxovirus family. Birds potentially affected by this disease include pet poultry (chickens, pheasants, guinea fowl etc), pigeons, birds of prey and parrots or other birds housed outside in aviaries. Wild birds are also susceptible and may transmit infection to your pet birds.

Clinical signs of Newcastle disease can include depression, lack of appetite, respiratory distress with beak gaping, coughing, sneezing, snicking, gurgling and rattling, yellowish green diarrhoea and nervous signs such as seizures, twisted necks or poor balance. Younger birds are most susceptible but unvaccinated birds of any age can catch the virus.

The risk to humans is minimal. A short-lived, conjunctivitis can occur in humans, but this has only been seen in workers exposed to large quantities of the virus.

Newcastle disease is highly infectious. It can be airborne and is spread by inhalation of the virus and direct contact with secretions from the respiratory tract and faeces. The virus is stable in the environment and may also be transmitted via contaminated feed, water, implements, premises and human clothing.

Once infected, there is no specific treatment. Supportive therapy at a specialist avian practice is recommended, but the response is variable. There is currently a vaccine available for use in pigeons, which would be possible to use in pet birds at risk of catching the virus.

Our current recommendation is to vaccinate any at risk birds within a 50 mile radius of the initial outbreak, since the virus is so highly transmissible. Birds of prey and parrots at risk include any that are housed outside and/or come into contact with wild birds. If you are interested in us vaccinating your bird(s), please do not hesitate to contact the surgery on 01793 603800 and make an appointment with on of our avian vets, or alternatively contact your local vet.

[Debbie]

Hey Everyone,

Can we all use the original thread which I have moved to this section from the rehab and first aid section.

Thanks H4wka for putting the link earlier as well. But here is the link of the link to the original thread.


http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=4995


I will lock this thread we are on now as redirection to the above thread.

Thanks everyone

Debbie