Outbreak of Newcastle Disease in Chickens in Poland

A week ago, chickens started dying in a chicken coop near Bialystok. The Podlaskie voivodeship has introduced zones of infected and threatened areas. Other producers of chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese are worried about their livestock and fear millions in losses.

This was reported by Wiadomosci.onet.pl.

Almost 30 poultry farms operate within 10 km of the virus outbreak. In humans, this virus can cause conjunctivitis if they have been in prolonged contact with infectious material.

The farm where the virus outbreak occurred is isolated with tapes. No one else is allowed near the chicken coop. Veterinary services are working on site in overalls, and their employees are driving outsiders away from the immediate danger. 

Due to the outbreak, Ukraine has banned imports of eggs, live poultry and other poultry products from Poland. 

"In connection with the outbreak of Newcastle disease in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, the Ukrainian authorities have imposed a ban on the import of Polish hatchery eggs, live poultry and poultry products and raw materials from the entire territory, except for products that have been treated with a method that guarantees the destruction of the pathogen of this disease," the statement said.

This ban is a serious problem for the Polish side, as Kyiv is the largest importer of day-old chickens.

"Tens of millions of them are imported to Ukraine every year. Chickens are delivered to recipients for fattening about 24 hours after hatching. They are transported in special vehicles to ensure optimal conditions," the publication writes. 

The National Chamber of Poultry and Feed Producers fears that hundreds of thousands of chickens may die in agony due to the import ban. 

What is Newcastle disease?

In Poland, the last infectious disease of Newcastle disease was recorded in 1974. This disease is caused by paramyxovirus type I. Its presence was confirmed by the results of research conducted by the State Veterinary Institute in Pulawy. The virus is highly pathogenic and leads to the death of the entire flock. Newborn chicken plague resembles bird flu, including wild birds, which is a highly contagious and violent disease that kills entire flocks.

Birds that have had the disease do not grow well. Infected young chicks aged four to five days almost always die. In adult birds, the egg production rate is halved. Since the disease is transmitted very quickly, poultry farms destroy sick animals to prevent mass spread, which is a loss for entrepreneurs.

As reported by The Gaze, according to a recent UN report, there is a strong belief that the world will be able to finally overcome the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and eliminate acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) by 2030. This achievement depends on full and rapid funding of existing health programmes and a demonstration of political will among nations.