Press Release

Kimberley Smith	(301) 734-6464
Jerry Redding	(202) 720-6959

USDA QUARANTINES AREAS IN TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO FOR EXOTIC NEWCASTLE DISEASE

Secretary Veneman Declares Extraordinary Emergency

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2003--The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that it has quarantined El Paso and Hudspeth counties, Texas, and Dona Ana, Luna and Otero counties, N.M., due to detections of exotic Newcastle disease (END).

Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman declared an extraordinary animal disease emergency that allows USDA to take any necessary actions to prevent the spread of END.

END, a contagious and fatal viral disease that affects all species of birds, was confirmed in backyard poultry on a premises in El Paso, Texas, on April 9. USDA's quarantine restricts the movement of birds, poultry, products and materials that could spread END from the area.

USDA, working cooperatively with the state of Texas, has sent a team of veterinarians and other personnel to the state to prevent the spread of the disease. This team will begin identifying infected flocks, imposing quarantines, euthanizing and disposing of birds when appropriate and cleaning and disinfecting infected sites. USDA is also providing educational information to community residents and the poultry industry.

END, which does not pose a significant health risk to humans, is one the most infectious poultry diseases in the world, with a death rate of almost 100 percent in unvaccinated poultry flocks. The disease is spread primarily through direct contact between healthy birds or poultry and the bodily discharges of infected birds or poultry.

For more information on END, visit USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services'
Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/enc/exoticnc.html.

Notice of this action was effective April 10, and is scheduled to appear in the April 16 Federal Register. APHIS documents published in the Federal Register and related information, including the names of organizations and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

Consideration will be given to comments received on or before June 16. Comments may be submitted by postal mail, commercial delivery or by e-mail. Send an original and three copies of postal or commercial delivery comments to Docket No. 02-117-5, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1238. If you use e-mail, address your comments to regulations@aphis.usda.gov. Comments must be contained in the body of the message; do not send attached files. Please include your name and address in the message and use "Docket No. 02-117-5" on the subject line.

Comments may be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays Persons wishing to review comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the comment reading room.

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