EU - France Is Free Of Newcastle Disease

Restrictions introducted following a case of Newcastle Disease in France earlier this year, have been lifted. On July 19, 2005, the French authorities notified the European Commission and the OIE (World Animal Health Organisation) of a suspicion of Newcastle disease on a pheasant and partridge farm in the Loire-Atlantique departement. The suspicion was confirmed and notification of the outbreak was given on July 27. All measures imposed by the European Union regulations had been largely put in place before the outbreak was confirmed: * July 15: beginning of the epidemiological investigation; blocking of suspected farms and establishment of a protection zone (with a 3km radius) and a surveillance zone (with a 10km radius) and implementation of related measures - ie, inventory of farms, limits on movement, health visits, etc; * July 20-21: stamping-out policy applied on both affected units; * July 21: preliminary disinfection completed; * July 23: disinfection of the infected farms completed. The precise source of the disease is still under investigation. However, a link with avifauna remains the most likely hypothesis due to the suspect farm's close proximity to a lake known for its migratory bird population. The epidemiological investigation determined that the risk period occurred between June 15 and July 15. The intracerebral pathogenicity index could not be established since the virological analyses were unable to isolate the virus. The French authorities said that the situation was satisfactory, with no new outbreaks or clinical suspicions. All of the investigations (health visits and laboratory analyses) had favourable results. The French authorities now believe that further danger in terms of Newcastle disease is unlikely. Hence, and in compliance with European Union regulations, the protection and surveillance zones were lifted on August 22, 2005. And outbreak of Newcastle Disease in England was blamed on ! birds brought into from France. Following that incident, surveillance for Newcastle Disease has been completed with negative results and area restrictions were removed from August 25, 2005. "This was a single introduction of disease from a source outside the United Kingdom. Control measures put in place were fully effective, limiting the incident to a single outbreak. There were no secondary cases, ' ' a spokesman said.