| Information sheets | | | Elsenburg infopaks | | | Animals, diseases: 8 |
Newcastle disease
Afrikaans | Xhosa
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Throughout the world Newcastle disease is one of the most severe problem diseases. It affects chickens in particular, while other poultry, caged birds, wild birds and ostriches are also affected. The disease is not only responsible for large-scale deaths, but also constitutes a threat to a country's status as an exporter of poultry, ostriches, and their products. |
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The disease is caused by a virus and is therefore not susceptible to
treatment. Preventative vaccination and proper management are obviously the appropriate control measures.
Virus-contaminated secretions and excretions from infected birds, for example faeces, phlegm and blood, as well as eggs, meat, etc. can pollute food, water, clothing or footwear, tools, cages and the environment in general, thus passing on the disease to susceptible birds. |
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Sick birds show signs of respiratory stress, with slimy eye and |
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nose secretions, accompanied by diarrhoea and nerve symptoms |
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such as a twisted neck, circular motions and paralysis. |
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Death follows within a few hours or days. In severe cases as many as
100% of an infected flock of birds can die.
Control is based on two actions, namely the vaccination of young birds in particular, and notification of any suspicion of an outbreak of the disease. |
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Vaccination
Birds as young as one day old can be vaccinated with a safe eyedrop or drinking water vaccine. The vaccine should rather not be used with young ostriches before the age of one month. A simple program with poultry could comprise the following: Vaccinate day-old chicks, and repeat on day 7, 18 and 31, and thereafter 6-monthly in the case of laying hens. With ostriches: Vaccinate at 3 - 6 weeks and repeat at 12 and 24 weeks, and thereafter annually if necessary. |
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Other control measures
Newcastle disease is a controlled disease in terms of the Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act 35 of 1984), which stipulates that it is one's duty to notify the nearest state veterinarian or animal health technician of any suspicion of an outbreak. |
In the meantime care must be taken to prevent the further spreading of the disease. Hands, clothing, vehicles (wheels, body) and equipment must be thoroughly disinfected with a viricidal agent, and all movement of poultry and ostriches from the premises must be stopped forthwith. Dead birds must not be destroyed before a state veterinarian has had the opportunity to examine them, since he or she may need the carcasses for samples to confirm the diagnosis.
DH de Lange
ELSENBURG / GEORGE Veterinary Services
