|
Press
Releases
Publications
Videos
Art &
Symbols
Email
Us
![jump over repetitive sidebar navigation](aphis-tx_files/spacer.gif) Privacy
Statement EEO
Statement USDA | MRP
Return to Home
Page
|
|
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.
#
Note to Reporters: USDA news releases, program announcements and
media advisories are available on the Internet. Access the APHIS
home page by pointing your Web browser to http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ and
clicking on the "News" button. Also, anyone with an e-mail address
can sign up to receive APHIS press releases automatically. Send
an e-mail message to majordomo@info.aphis.usda.gov and
leave the subject blank. In the message, type: subscribe
press_releases |
|