Press Release

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

USDA AMENDS QUARANTINE BOUNDARIES FOR EXOTIC NEWCASTLE DISEASE IN TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO

WASHINGTON, June 10, 2003--The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that it has amended the quarantine boundaries for exotic Newcastle disease by removing Dona Ana, Luna and Otero counties in N.M., Hudspeth County, Texas, and portions of El Paso County, Texas, from the list of quarantined areas.

Exotic Newcastle disease is a fatal viral disease that affects all species of birds, but poses no human health risk. This action removes restrictions on the movement of birds, poultry and certain other articles from those areas.

END was first confirmed in backyard poultry in southern California in October 2002 and in commercial poultry in December 2002. It was later identified in Nevada and Arizona in January and February 2003, respectively. In April, the disease was also diagnosed in Texas.

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, in cooperation with the Texas Animal Health Commission quickly eradicated the disease in the single backyard flock in El Paso, Texas, and prevented any further spread of the disease.

END is one of the most infectious poultry diseases in the world. The virus is spread primarily through direct contact between healthy birds and the bodily discharges of infected birds. The disease is transmitted through infected birds' droppings and secretions from the nose, mouth and eyes.

For more information regarding END, visit the APHIS Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/enc/exoticnc.html.

This interim rule is scheduled for publication in the June 11 Federal Register and was effective June 5. 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 Aug. 11. Send an original and three copies of postal or commercial delivery comments to Docket No. 02-117-8, 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. Your 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. 02-117-8" 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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