Newcastle disease
Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly contagious viral disease that can affect many species of domestic and wild birds. In Victoria, it's compulsory to vaccinate commercial poultry flocks (flocks with 1,000 or more birds) against ND.
The disease has several strains that differ in the severity of their clinical signs, ranging from inapparent infection to a rapidly fatal condition. There are a range of clinical signs that can involve the digestive, respiratory or nervous systems.
ND first came to international attention in Newcastle upon Tyne, England in 1926. It has nothing to do with Newcastle, NSW.
If you suspect ND
ND is a notifiable disease. This means that legally you must tell us if you know of or suspect the presence of ND in any of your birds. You can do this by calling one of the following:
- An animal health officer or district veterinary officer at Agriculture Victoria on 136 186
- The Emergency Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888
Regularly check your birds and immediately report any unusual signs of disease to our staff or your local vet.
Symptoms of ND
The range and severity of the clinical signs depend on:
- the strain of virus
- the characteristics of the bird affected, including its age, condition and species.
Clinical signs in poultry can range from a mild, almost unapparent respiratory disease to any combination of the following:
- a very severe depression
- drop in egg production
- neurological signs (such as twisted necks)
- profuse diarrhoea
- trouble breathing
- sudden mortality in a large percentage of the flock.
ND in pigeons is referred to as pigeon paramyxovirus and this particular strain of ND has not been found to cause illness in chickens.
How ND spreads
ND spreads by direct or indirect contact from infected birds. The virus is excreted in manure and is breathed out into the air.
People and equipment can easily carry the virus from one shed or farm to another.
Risk to public health
ND is a minor zoonosis, meaning it can cause minor illness in humans (for example, conjunctivitis).
Normal cooking completely destroys the virus in eggs and meat.
Managing outbreaks of virulent ND in Australia
ND prevention in Australia is managed under the National Newcastle Disease Management Plan 2020.
Australia is currently free of virulent ND. Avirulent strains of ND virus are present in wild birds in most countries, including Australia. The last outbreak of virulent ND in Victoria occurred in 2002.
When virulent ND is found in Australia, the incidents are managed according to the AUSVETPLAN disease strategy for the control and eradication of ND.
Attempts to eradicate the virus involve:
- ‘stamping out’ or destroying all birds that might have been exposed to the virus
- disposal of infected carcasses or other contaminated materials.
This is done in conjunction with:
- strict quarantine and movement controls to contain the virus
- cleaning and decontamination to remove any remaining virus in the environment
- tracing and surveillance to determine the extent of infection
- zoning to define at-risk and disease-free areas
Introducing chickens into other flocks in Victoria
The following restrictions apply to moving chickens into or within Victoria:
- Chickens introduced to commercial poultry flocks in Victoria must be vaccinated for ND as per the requirements of the National Newcastle Disease Management Plan 2020.
- If young chickens are introduced that are unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated, the person receiving the chickens is responsible for completing the vaccination program.
- Chickens introduced to other flocks must come with a vendor declaration that states the age and number of chickens, the dates of vaccination and the types of ND vaccine that the chickens received.
You can download and use our vendor declaration form or instead include an appropriate statement on the invoice that accompanies the chickens.
For information about moving poultry outside of Victoria, contact the relevant state authority.
Compulsory vaccination against ND
Apart from incidents in 1930 and 1932, which were managed by eradication, Australia was free from ND until 1998. Between 1998 and 2002, a virulent ND virus of Australian origin emerged and was associated with several outbreaks of ND in NSW and an outbreak in Victoria.
After this, to manage the risk of future outbreaks or incursions, the National Newcastle Disease Management Plan was developed by Animal Health Australia.
As a result, it’s compulsory in Victoria for owners or managers of commercial poultry flocks to vaccinate chickens against ND in line with nationally agreed Newcastle Disease Vaccination Program standard operating procedures (NDVP SOPs), as listed in the National Newcastle Disease Management Plan. This is required as per regulation 63 of the Livestock Disease Control Regulations 2017.
A commercial poultry flock is any managed group of more than 1,000 domestic chickens. Commercial flocks include flocks of:
- meat chickens
- laying hens
- chickens used for breeding purposes.
ND Vaccination Program standard operating procedures (NDVPSOPs)
All chickens in any commercial poultry flock in Victoria must be vaccinated in line with NDVP SOPs, as per Appendix 1 of the National Newcastle Disease Management Plan.
Exemptions might apply to specific pathogen-free poultry flocks or other highly biosecure commercial poultry flocks operating in line with a permit issued by the Chief Veterinary Officer at Agriculture Victoria.
Serological testing in commercial flocks
Serological testing for ND is used to detect antibodies and demonstrate the effectiveness of the vaccination program. Serological testing requirements are listed in the NDVP SOPs, as per Appendix 1 of the National Newcastle Disease Management Plan.
Samples for serological monitoring are to be collected by a vet or a person approved by the Chief Veterinary Officer.
Keep records for 3 years
Owners of commercial poultry flocks are required to keep for 3 years:
- vaccination records of all ND vaccine administered to the commercial flock of poultry
- vendor declarations for chickens introduced to the flock and their vaccination records
- records of serological monitoring for ND that you've undertaken in the flock.
Your vaccination records must contain information about the:
- type of vaccine
- date of vaccination
- location
- age of chickens
- number of chickens vaccinated.
Obtaining and admininstering the vaccine
Owners of commercial poultry flocks pay their own costs for vaccination.
Always administer the vaccine in line with the:
- manufacturer's recommendations
- NDVP SOPs as per Appendix 1 of the National Newcastle Disease Management Plan
You can get the vaccine from the following suppliers.
Bioproperties Pty Ltd
36 Charter Street
RINGWOOD VIC 3134
Phone: 03 9876 0567
Fax: 03 9876 0556
MSD (Australia) Pty Ltd
91–105 Harpin Street
BENDIGO EAST VIC 3550
Phone: 03 5442 5011
Fax: 03 5442 3162
Zoetis Animal Health
38–42 Wharf Road
WEST RYDE NSW 2114
Phone: 1800 022 442
Fax: 1800 775 358