Farmers cry foul in poultry embargo

Group says East Texas industry penalized by infection in El Paso

The discovery of Exotic Newcastle Disease in a backyard chicken flock in El Paso has caused ripples in the poultry industry stretching from Texas across the world to the European Union and Japan.

Because of last month's outbreak, major export partners have embargoed Texas poultry products despite no other cases being reported in Texas. Poultry growers complain that the embargoes are illogical, since the spot where the infection was detected and the state's poultry industry are on opposite ends of the state.

"What they don't understand is that Mount Pleasant, Texas, is closer to Chicago, Illinois, than (to) El Paso, and people don't have a concept on the size of the state," said James Grimm, executive vice president of the Texas Poultry Federation.

While Mount Pleasant, in northeast Texas, is about 40 miles farther from El Paso than from Chicago, Grimm's point is clear -- the embargoes punish a $3 billion industry located almost exclusively east of Interstate 35 for some sick chickens in a back yard hundreds of miles away.

Mexico, Canada and Taiwan also have embargoed Texas poultry, and experts say the effect on the industry could be as high as $100 million, Grimm said.

In 2001, poultry producers exported more than $137 million of poultry and poultry products.

"That embargo may last two to three months; it may last six months. It's up to our trading partners. That one flock of positive backyard birds has a real dynamic effect on the industry, even though we're 750 miles away," said Dr. Travis Cigainero, veterinarian for Pilgrim's Pride Corp. in the U.S. and Mexico.

"This directly relates to jobs. You also have to consider the trickle-down effect for the thousands of Texans who support the poultry industry with goods and services, such as feed and equipment for the birds, groceries, housing, banking, schools, transportation and entertainment," Cigainero said in a Texas Animal Health Commission news release.

The last outbreak of Newcastle in the United States began in Southern California in 1971. Roughly 12 million birds died, and the breeding and egg industries were crippled.

The disease is caused by a virus found in the droppings, breath and eggs of birds. An infected bird can pass the disease to another bird by being in proximity. Newcastle can wipe out entire flocks of poultry but is harmless to humans.

The flock in El Paso became sickened after its owner attended a cockfight in New Mexico, Grimm said.

"When you go to a cockfight, the potential of commingling with birds across the U.S. is very real and what you can bring back is unknown," he said.

The infected flock was destroyed, and the United States Department of Agriculture and the Texas Animal Health Commission are continuing investigations.

Poultry is the third leading agricultural commodity in the state; Texas is the sixth largest poultry producer in the country, and the industry employs about 15,000 people statewide.

The embargoes have not yet affected producers, who raise chickens on contract for large companies, called integrators, such as Tyson Foods and Pilgrim's Pride, Grimm said. The immediate effect so far is on the integrators' bottom line.

Despite Newcastle's potential for devastating an entire flock, an East Texas producer said poultry farmers have only halfheartedly taken precautions against the spread of the disease.

Exotic Newcastle Disease "was found in a flock of backyard chickens or fighting chickens, so we feel a sense of `it's not going to happen here,' " said David Alders, owner of Carrizo Creek Corp. in the Nacogdoches County town of Woden.

"That's the primary impact we should feel. What we ought to be doing -- and to be honest, not doing well enough -- is taking real care that our farms are not visited often or at all by people we don't know their background," Alders said.

The Newcastle virus can be carried on shoes, clothing, hair, tires -- anything that comes into contact with poultry feces -- so proper disinfection is important to stop the spread of the disease.

Newcastle could ruin the economy in East Texas, where poultry is the biggest economic sector, and Pilgrim's Pride is the largest employer in Nacogdoches County.

Source: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/1903975

----- Original Message -----

From: "carla everett" <ceverett@tahc.state.tx.us>

Subject: Exotic Newcastle Disease: Rules Set for Pet Bird Movement in Texas' El Paso County

NEWS RELEASE
Texas Animal Health Commission
Box l2966  * Austin, Texas 78711 * (800) 550-8242  * FAX (512) 719-0719
Bob Hillman, DVM *  Executive Director
For info, contact Carla Everett, information officer, at 1-800-550-8242,
ext. 710, or ceverett@tahc.state.tx.us

New Mexico Livestock Board
300 San Mateo Blvd NE, Suite 1000
Albuquerque, NM  87108-1500 * (505) 841-6161 * FAX (505) 841-6160
Steven R. England, DVM * State Veterinarian

For immediate release May 8, 2003
 Rules Set for Pet Bird Movement in Texas' El Paso County

Pet birds in Texas' El Paso County now may be on their way to new homes, or to a veterinarian's office for medical care, thanks to a relaxation of bird movement restrictions imposed by state and federal animal health officials in early April.   All bird movement in El Paso County has been prohibited during the past month, while regulatory veterinarians and animal health inspectors from the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), New Mexico Livestock Board, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) work to
eradicate an outbreak of Exotic Newcastle Disease (END), a foreign poultry disease that can wipe out infected bird populations.

"In addition to El Paso County, where we detected a backyard flock infected with END, we have also had state and federal quarantines on Texas' Hudspeth County, and Otero, Luna, and Dona Anna Counties in New Mexico. In these four counties, where we have not had confirmed infected flocks, pet birds have been allowed to move within and between the quarantined counties.  In
El Paso County, on the other hand, we needed to shut down all movement of birds, until we could assess the possibility of additional infection," said Dr. Max Coats, deputy director for animal health programs at the TAHC, Texas' livestock and poultry health regulatory agency.

"Our joint state and federal teams have tested pet birds or flocks of backyard birds at nearly 500 locations in the five counties and, as of May 8,  have found no additional END infection. We've determined that it is scientifically safe for pet birds, such as parakeets, cockatiels, parrots or budgies, in El Paso County to be moved, as long as certain biosecurity and health conditions are met.  Each request for movement of pet birds within El Paso County will be considered on a case-by-case basis," said He emphasized that chickens, ducks, turkeys and game fowl in the five counties will remain under a movement ban until the quarantines are released.

"We do not want to hinder commerce unduly, but we must take the precautions to prevent any spread of END, which is deadly to all species of birds. Prior to moving a bird from a retail or wholesale pet bird business in El Paso County, the purchaser must sign a register, indicating they understand and will adhere to all movement restrictions," he explained.  "When a pet bird in El Paso County needs medical care, first contact your veterinarian, who will obtain movement permission from the END task force in El Paso."

Dr. Coats said that pet birds may not be moved from stores where any of the birds have exhibited clinical signs of illness, such as diarrhea, ruffled feathers or nasal discharge within the previous 15 days.  Furthermore, all pet birds being moved must be properly caged or housed during movement. Pet birds from El Paso County may not leave the county until all quarantines are released.

"This relaxation of movement restrictions will allow owners within El Paso County  to secure a new pet bird, or to obtain needed veterinary medical attention for their pet birds.  Until the quarantines are released, some movement restrictions must remain in place, so that we can trace birds, if additional END infection is detected.   We do not know when the federal or state quarantines will be released," he said.  "First we must finish testing a sufficient percentage of the birds within the entire five-county area to demonstrate to ourselves, other states and our international trading partners that there is no more infection in the area."

END affects only bird species, including chickens, turkeys, pet birds and ratites, such as ostriches.  Two days to two weeks after being exposed to the virus, infected birds may gasp, cough, exhibit muscle tremors or complete paralysis, develop watery diarrhea, or die suddenly, without signs of illness.  In southern California, nine counties are under quarantine, due to an END outbreak that has spread to 22 commercial flocks and to nearly 900 backyard flocks.  Nearly 3.5 million birds have been depopulated in an effort to stop the spread of the disease.

"We feel extremely fortunate that this foreign poultry disease outbreak in Texas appears to have been limited to one infected flock in El Paso County. The other four counties were included in the quarantines, because of their proximity to El Paso County.  The USDA requires a buffer zone around infected counties, to help prevent disease spread," said Dr. Coats.  "The END virus is very contagious, and aggressive action was taken to prevent the spread of disease."

Dr. Coats explained that bird owners in the five-county quarantine zone to call the END task force at 915-859-9446 to make reports of sick birds or to discuss movement requests for pet birds within El Paso County. For general END disease information, or to report sick birds in other parts of Texas, call the TAHC at 1-800-550-8242.  In New Mexico, producers may call the New Mexico Livestock Board at 505-841-6161.