Bernburg. A long-known animal disease, Newcastle disease (ND), to which chicken and turkey flocks are susceptible, is currently causing considerable animal suffering in Brandenburg and Bavaria. As a result, more animals have had to be culled in the past six weeks than in connection with the avian influenza outbreak this season.
The Salzlandkreis Veterinary Office is informing all poultry farmers and refers them to the information on its website. Official veterinarian Dr Christian Lutter explains: “The symptoms of the disease are almost indistinguishable. Any abnormalities in the birds, particularly deaths exceeding expected levels, declining egg production or poor weight gain, must therefore be investigated for both avian influenza and Newcastle disease. Practising vets and their laboratories are available for this purpose, or dead birds can be sent in directly. The Veterinary Office will assist with this.”
In this situation, it is beneficial that poultry flocks, all chickens and turkeys, are regularly vaccinated against ND. This vaccination is mandatory. However, the vaccination may not be fully effective against the current virus and ND may break out. Without the vaccination, the clinic would be significantly stronger.
Spring vaccinations for chickens and turkeys are currently underway. The dates of the veterinary practices are published on the Salzlandkreis homepage, as far as they are known to the district.
The Veterinary Office urgently reminds poultry farmers to segregate conspicuous poultry immediately and to comply with biosecurity measures.
The Veterinary Office can be contacted by telephone during office hours on
or via the control centre.