Bird mortality due to infectious diseases is never a welcome occurrence. The Poultry Site recently shared an update about the spread of virulent Newcastle disease, formerly known as Exotic Newcastle Disease, in Southern California. According to the USDA, this disease is so virulent that many birds and poultry perish without exhibiting clinical signs.

The California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory System (CAHFS) tested samples from flocks that have suffered from increased mortality. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS), and National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, IA confirmed the findings.

There have been an additional four cases in California involving backyard chickens. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) would like to urge bird owners to be more vigilant regarding biosecurity to prevent birds from infectious diseases.

Virulent is not a food safety concern. Even so, proper biosecurity measures should be performed to ensure the quality of life of birds/poultry, as well as to prevent financial loss for producers. Certain steps can be taken to prevent bird mortality due to infectious diseases, which you will find here. If you would like to view the list of cases, visit the USDA website.

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Trish Valenzuela, CPC/ PRC • Poultry Recruiter

Trish Valenzuela specializes in recruiting for poultry feed additive companies. She has filled positions in technical support, sales, and sales management across the USA.

Trish joined Continental Search in July 2015, and through hard study, she passed two certification programs. She is now a Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) and a Professional Recruiting Consultant (PRC).

Visit her LinkedIn profile to connect with her and stay updated with current poultry trends. You can reach her at (302) 248-8242, through LinkedIn, or at trish@consearch.com.