Newcastle disease
Newcastle disease (ND) is a viral disease of domestic poultry (chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese), cage and aviary birds, and wild birds. ND usually presents as a respiratory disease, but depression, nervous manifestations, or diarrhoea may be the predominant clinical signs.
Australia is free of virulent ND.
ND is a notifiable disease in New South Wales (NSW). This means that there is a legal obligation to notify authorities if you know or suspect that birds have this disease. You can notify by phoning:
- your Local Land Services on 1300 795 299; or
- a NSW Department of Primary Industries veterinarian or regulatory officer; or
- the Emergency Animal Disease watch hotline on 1800 675 888 (monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year).
National response to Newcastle disease
ND is managed under a national Newcastle Disease Management Plan (NDMP). The goal of the NDMP 2013-2016 is to minimise the risk of an Australian-origin ND outbreak through vaccination of commercial domestic chickens (flocks with > 1000 birds) according to the nationally agreed ND vaccination program – standard operating procedures.
Due to a shortage of inactivated ND vaccine, a Group Biosecurity Permit was issued on 14 Feb 2020 to allow the use of live ND vaccine in certain circumstances until such time as the inactivated ND vaccine becomes available again.
For details, refer to the Group Biosecurity Permit (PDF, 574.7 KB) and Chief Veterinary Officer Bulletin (PDF, 218.32 KB).
