2. Preparedness for Newcastle Disease Eemergency/Lessons Learned from 2011-2012 Outbreak
Dr. Farhan Afzal
Assistant Research Officer
Poultry Research Institute, Rawalpindi

3. An Overview of Poultry Sector
Current investment = Rs. 200 Billion
Employment generation = 1.50 Million
Contribution in Agri growth = 6.4 %
Contribution in Livestock growth = 11.5 %
Poultry Meat Share = 25.8 % of total meat
Annual Growth rate = 8-10 %
Per Capita Meat consumption = 4.62 Kgs.
Per Capita Egg consumption = No.
Punjab Province share = 73%
Source: Economic Survey of Pakistan

5. Incidence of ND, IB, H9 in Punjab

6. ND Losses in Broilers Month Mortality (Mill) Av. Rate/Kg (Rs)
Value (Mill Rs.)
Nov,11
0.86
108.03
92.90
Dec,11
3.68
117.58
432.69
Jan,12
8.60
148.19
Feb,12
15.48
151.31
Mar,12
15.97
136.00
April,12
09.85
152.73
May,12
17.09
125.10
June,12
16.82
143.23
July,12
13.39
174.23
Aug,12
1.09
136.58
148.87
TOTAL
102.83

7. Previous outbreaks 2010-2011 2011-2012 Outbreak started from November
Caused mortality mainly in broilers
Limited to Lahore and surrounding areas, sporadic cases from other areas
Subsided in 3 or 4 month
Caused mortality in broilers, layer, breeders
Widespread in whole of the country and caused huge economic loses
Subside in mid of the August

8. Efforts to control the disease
Treatments
Antibiotics, antipyretics, immune boasters (unsuccessful)
Oral egg yolk, injectable egg yolk (unsuccessful)
Vaccination during the outbreak (unsuccessful)
In fact, all the efforts to treat the bird created more complications.
Farm level
All the mortality thrown outside
All the morbid birds sold to the market
No restriction to the movement of vehicles
As a result disease spread widely in short time

9. Efforts to control the disease
Institute level
Research on the virus (velogenic in nature, genotype VII, Exotic in the nature)
Research on vaccination (previous vaccines could give protection, new vaccines were also prepared)
Improvement in vaccination methods, introduction of Killed vaccination in broilers.
Emphasis on the biosecurity
Formers meetings awareness campaigns

10. Preparedness before the outbreak
Farm level
Improve the hygiene and biosecurity measures
Bird proof houses, feed stores and water tanks
Minimizing, scrutinizing and controlling movements onto and off premises
Disinfecting all the equipments especially vehicles, before bringing on site
Ensuring that all movements for collecting eggs or carcasses, feed delivery etc are from a designated collection and delivery points, away from the poultry house
Take special precaution with vaccinating teams, veterinarians as they move between farms

11. Preparedness before the outbreak
Farm level
Improve the health status of the flock by controlling respiratory and other immunosuppressive disease
Reduce the stress from the flock, improve its management by taking special care of required temperature and ventilation.
Vaccinate the flock according to schedule by taking proper precautions
Check the status of the boiler flocks at days of age for virus isolation and serology, and collect the samples for serology just before sale to evaluate your vaccination program
Check the status of the layer and breeder flock for serology and virus isolation every month
Consult veterinarian or institute if any sign of disease

12. Preparedness before the outbreak
Institute level
Surveillance of the disease should be a continuous process
Broilers
Any shed mortality 0.5% or higher per day for 3 or more days after first week of age is suspicious
Any shed with respiratory signs lasting more than 2 days
Any shed with nervous signs regardless of the duration
Layers and breeders
Any shed suffering 10% drop in egg production or appearance of 5% white eggs or 5% shell-less eggs over a period of 2-3 days
Any shed suffering increased mortality more than 0.5 per day for 3-5 days
Any shed with respiratory sign lasting more than 2 days

13. Preparedness before the outbreak
Laboratory level
Labs should increase their capacity for Newcastle disease surveillance
All the labs should have facility of serology HI, ELISA (if possible DIVA)
Main labs should have virus isolation identification facilities including pathotyping of the virus
Isolation identification and calculation of ICPI requires minimum 7 days which is a long procedure
Monoclonal antibodies for pathotyping
Molecular techniques are more reliable, and time saving

14. In the phase of outbreak
Stamping out without vaccination
Those countries which have eradicated the disease and don’t do vaccination can adopt this policy
Stamping out with vaccination
Most of the countries which do vaccination adopt this policy
Eradication by vaccination without stamping out
Countries which can’t eradicate the disease and live with velogenic virus adopt with this policy

15. In the phase of outbreak
Quarantine and movement control
Live birds, mortality, eggs, liter, feed etc and other equipments should be isolated were exotic Newcastle Disease virus detected
Contaminated personals should leave the area after showering and changing cloths
Vehicles should also be disinfected
Quarantine of Infected Premises(IPs), Dangerous Contact Premises (DCPs), Suspected Premises (SPs)

16. In the phase of outbreak
Declaration of restricted & control areas
Restricted Area (RA)
It should be 2-5 km area where the outbreak of exotic Newcastle disease virus occurred, it would include IPs, DCPs, and SPs. There should be movement restriction of except general public not associated with poultry
Control Area (CA)
it should be 2-10 km area around the restricted area. It would make a buffer zone around the RA. Movement Should be controlled.

17. In the phase of outbreak
Tracing
Critical date should be determined as the virus entered IPs, Movement to and from IPs & DSPs, should be noticed 21 days before the first outbreak (incubation period of the virus 21 days OIE). Movement of birds, eggs, poultry product, feed, litter, waste, equipments should be traced, which would help to locate the original source of infection
Surveillance
Active surveillance should be started as soon as ND confirmed, initially specimens should be taken from all the species of birds died in RA. Surveillance of all the species including vaccinated and non vaccinated in RA and CA

18. In the phase of outbreak
Treatment
Treatment of the birds with ND is ineffective and not appropriate
Destruction of birds
Several methods (cyanide, methyl bromide, CO2, nitrogen gas)
CO2 gas is preferred because lack of toxicity to humans
Disposal
Dead birds, eggs, litter, manure, waste products, building material that cannot be disinfected
The aim should be removal of a large number of birds in short time and protection of environment

19. In the phase of outbreak
Burial; burial is the best method, cheapest, should be very near to shed (Adopted in 2006 Avian Influenza outbreak in Pakistan)
Incineration; effective and safe, but incinerators are too small or too far away from practical use.
Rendering; is a good method of disposal if rendering plant has the capacity
Disposal at abattoir; depends upon the authorities to decide SPs my be disposed there

20. In the phase of outbreak
Decontamination (cleaning & Disinfection)
Initially clean the organic matter from the shed, then equipment vehicles
Cleaning with detergent is very much effective (Washing, Scrubbing)
Quantity of disinfection used an outbreak should be several time more than the routine disinfection
Restocking
No repopulation at least 21 days after satisfactory cleaning and disinfection.

21. Conclusion
New castle disease virus is more costly than any other animal virus
Surveillance should be a continuous process
It requires serious and joint efforts from public, private and academia to control the problem

22. Thanks