Newcastle Disease

Last reviewed October 2005

Australian Situation

Australia is free from virulent Newcastle Disease (ND). Pathogenic strains of ND are absent from Australia. Until recently, virulent ND had occurred only twice in Australia (in 1930 and 1932) and was eradicated by a slaughter-out response. In 1966, an avirulent strain of Newcastle disease virus was identified in Australia. Avirulent strains of virus are now endemic in poultry flocks in Australia, and are present in a number of species of wild birds.

There were sporadic outbreaks in 1998-2000 in New South Wales, mainly near Sydney. These were eradicated and Australia was thus able to meet international standards for being free of virulent ND in October 2001. There were no further outbreaks of ND or isolations of virulent ND virus in Australia until ND was confirmed in May 2002 on a single farm at Meredith, Victoria and then separate outbreaks in October 2002, affecting three small commercial farms near Horsley Park in Western Sydney, New South Wales. These outbreaks were subsequently eradicated and Australia was again able to meet international standards for being free of virulent ND in June 2003, and to this date remains free.

Please see relevant editions of 'Animal Health in Australia' for more information on these outbreaks and subsequent eradication program information.

This disease is nationally notifiable in Australia. Information on Australia's current policy to manage Newcastle disease, including compulsory vaccination in commercial flocks across all States and Territories, is available on the Animal Health Australia website . Please consult Australia's Agreed Minimum List of Notifiable Diseases for further information.

An 'AUSVETPLAN Disease Strategy Manual' describing control measures in the event of an outbreak of this disease is available in the AUSVETPLAN section of this website.

Disease Summary

Newcastle disease is a viral disease of domestic poultry and wild birds that is characterised by gastrointestinal, respiratory and nervous signs.

A 'Disease Card' describing this disease is available on the OIE Website.

World Distribution

Strains of Newcastle disease virus are present in most countries.

Pathogenic strains are absent from Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Irian Jaya province of Indonesia is the area closest to Australia that has endemic virulent Newcastle disease. Since the disease first came to international attention in 1926, there have been three major pandemics of viscerotropic virulent Newcastle disease - from 1926 to the early 1960s, from the late 1960s to the early 1970s, and from the late 1970s to mid-1980s.

More information on this OIE-listed disease, including worldwide disease status and distribution, is available on the OIE Website.

Surveillance Statistics

The following table gives surveillance statistics regarding Newcastle disease investigations:

Newcastle disease investigations 1 October 2003 - 31 December 2004

Further Information

Further information, including publicly available Australian historical data can be obtained by contacting:

Project Manager
Animal Health Australia
Phone: (02) 6203 3912
Fax: (02) 6232 5511
Email: aha@animalhealthaustralia.com.au