Hi all,
In view of recent comments about the Newcastle's Disease and the
destruction of avairy birds, the following is an extract from a letter
rom R.E..Jane, Chief Veterinary Officer 10/5/99
...It was the unanimous assessment of the Consulative Committee on
Emergency Animal Disease (CCEAD) that it is not possible to make any
exceptions to the plan of slaughtering out all commercial, backyard and
outside avairy birds on Mangrove Mountain. The major reasons for this
are as follows:
* It is likely that there was windborne spread of Newcastle Disease (ND)
on Mangrove Mountain so all birds kept outside could have been exposed
to infection with the virulent virus.
* Avairy birds and backyard poultry may become infected with ND virus
and so could harbour the disease and be a source of re-infection of
commercial poultry when they are restocked.
* Different species vary in their susceptibility to ND virus, so avairy
birds could be infected but not show signs of illness, yet remain a
source of re-infection of commercial flocks.
* Granting exemptions to any individual owner would only lead to others
seeking the same privilege, thereby endangering the success of the
eradication effort.
* The teasting of various species of avairy birds for the presence of
the disease is not always conclusive as more resistant species may only
intermittently shed the virus. Therefore despite a complex time
consuming and expensive testing protocol we may still be left with an
infected bird that could pose a major risk to this multi-million dollar
industry.
I regret that this action is necessary and fully sympathise with the
people involved. However the situation is so serious that we cannot
afford to compromise the disease eradication programme........ (end of
letter)
Alan Morris
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