Health Matters

Health Matters

END Update

Exotic Newcastle Disease (END), which was confirmed in California on Oct. 1, 2002, is now is the final phase of total eradication. A federal quarantine of five counties in Nevada and Arizona was lifted the middle of May and the command posts closed. Birds and poultry may once again be moved freely within El Paso County, Texas, while they wait for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to process their request for a federal quarantine release.

Through this process, USDA has depopulated almost 3.5 million birds in four states ? California, Texas, Arizona and Nevada ? with the assistance of 923 personnel assigned to the project.

USDA?s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is currently conducting END strategy meetings in an effort to plan for final eradication and surveillance activities. According to APHIS, all U.S. trading partners should be assured that all commercial U.S. poultry genetics and products can be certified as END-free.

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