Newcastle Disease

In this section you can find out more about Newcastle Disease – one of the subjects on which the British Veterinary Association (BVA) has produced background information

Background

Newcastle Disease is a highly contagious disease of birds caused by a paramyxovirus.

Birds affected are fowl, turkeys, geese, ducks, pheasants, guinea fowl and other wild and captive birds, including ratites such as ostriches and emus.

Affected birds may show signs of respiratory disease, diarrhoea, nervous signs such as twisted neck or incoordination, swollen face and neck, or sudden death. Hens can stop laying or the eggs may be deformed.

In Great Britain, isolated cases of this disease were first reported in the 1930s. From 1947 outbreaks occurred here over the next 30 years and there were further isolated cases in 1984, 1996-7, 2005 and 2006.

What the BVA has done

The BVA has issued

a policy brief on Newcastle Disease which gives an overview of the disease, current controls and preventative measures, and the signs of the disease
information on the government's disease control strategy
a legislative overview