Description of the disease
Newcastle disease (ND) is a disease of major importance for poultry and other birds. It is caused by specified viruses of the avian paramyxovirus type (APMV-I) of the family Paramyxoviridae.
The disease is categorised as “ Category A” under the EU Animal Health Law and does not normally occur in the Union which requires immediate eradication measures as soon as it is detected.
The disease is characterised by respiratory and/or nervous signs, partial or complete cessation of egg production or misshapen eggs, greenish watery diarrhoea and oedema of the tissues around the eyes and the neck.
Transmission - The infection is spread via direct contact with secretions and excretions, especially faeces, from infected birds or indirect contact through contaminated feed, water, equipment, vehicles, humans, fomites etc.
ND is a disease listed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE) and due to its potential for very serious and rapid spread, irrespective of national borders with serious socio-economic consequences requirements for international trade of live animals and animal products are laid down in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code.
Prevention and control measures
All suspected cases of ND in poultry or captive birds must be investigated and appropriate measures in accordance with the Regulation (EU) 2016/429 ("Animal Health Law") and the rules for the prevention and control of certain diseases laid down in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 have to be taken in case of confirmation.
To limit the spread, stamping-out measures must be implemented in the infected poultry or captive bird establishments as soon as possible. Feeding stuffs, contaminated equipment and manure must be destroyed or treated to inactivate the virus.
To prevent further spread of disease the competent authorities are required to immediately put in place movement restrictions on the affected establishment and on the establishments located in the restricted zone which consists in a protection zone and a surveillance zone with a radius of at least 3 and 10 kilometres respectively around the affected establishment.
If necessary, stamping-out measures can also be extended to poultry farms in the vicinity or to farms that have had relevant contacts with infected farm.
At farm level, appropriate biosecurity measures to prevent the direct or indirect contact of poultry with wild birds, together with preventive hygiene measures such as cleaning and disinfection are crucial.
Disease awareness amongst farmers and co-operation by all actors involved in the poultry sector must ensure that the strictest bio-security measures are applied to prevent the introduction of the ND virus in the establishments and the (further) spread of the disease.
Notification
Infection with ND virus is subject to Union notification, as required by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2002. The EU Animal Disease Information System (ADIS) provides uniform conditions for the implementation of Union notification and reporting by Member States.
Vaccination
The use of vaccines against ND is allowed in accordance with the EU specific legislation (Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/361). Routine precautionary vaccination against ND is applied on a large scale in the EU and elsewhere in the world.
Emergency vaccination can be applied as response to an outbreak of ND, based on an official vaccination plan and under the control of the competent authority. The Member States deciding to implement emergency vaccination against ND need to inform the Commission and the other Member States on such decision, on the vaccination plan and to regularly report on the implementation of such plan.