Colorado Vets Asked to Watch for Newcastle Disease

Virulent Newcastle Disease has shown up in a commercial California poultry flock. It's the first time the disease has shown up in a commercial flock in the US in 15 years.

The USDA says this finding is part of an outbreak in southern California that began last May in backyard birds.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture says there have been no traces from the positive commercial facility to Colorado.

But at this time, it is asking all Colorado veterinarians to speak to clients of backyard and commercial poultry to increase their biosecurity practices and report any sick birds or unusual bird deaths immediately to the State Veterinarian's Office.

Here is Dr. Alan Huddleston with USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service listing some symptoms of virulent Newcastle disease that birds may exhibit.

The Department says Virulent Newcastle disease is not a food safety concern. No human cases have ever occurred from eating poultry products. Properly cooked poultry products are safe to eat. In very rare instances people working directly with sick birds can become infected and experience flu-like symptoms.