News South Africa

Newcastle Outbreak: 'no need to panic', North West Agriculture MEC

The Poultry Site reports that the North West provincial department of agriculture and rural development announced that an outbreak of Newcastle disease has killed more than 170 chickens. Spokeswoman Bonolo Mohlakoana said in a statement that vets would go to the affected areas to start a vaccination programme.

"There is no treatment for Newcastle disease currently, therefore prevention through vaccination is important," she added.

Although he has conveyed his concern to the department's state veterinarians and urged farmers to report any mortality cases immediately, North West Agriculture MEC Boitumelo Tshwene said that other poultry farmers in the province should not panic, "since measures have been taken to control the spread of the outbreak, in that the trading and movement of chickens and turkeys or their products within or between the affected villages is currently prohibited." According to The Poultry Site, Newcastle disease is a contagious and fatal disease caused by a virus that affects domestic birds (chickens and turkeys) as well wild birds.

Read the full article on www.thepoultrysite.com.

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