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Because the bacteria/virus does not die, its given in such small amounts that they build an immunity, and then they become contagious. Basically commercial birds are given these virus'- like cold sores, always contagious to us humans. Even after years and years, a cold sore can crop up, and when exposed to another, it is passed on through physical contact, in poultry, the water, feed and anything that creates a liquid spreads the virus.
As for why they are contagious, that is something you will have to look up. But I'll say this much, ILT is a horrible death and commercial birds have the ILT inoculation and then it spreads a lesser virus, but the birds should be put down.
Do as you choose but a friend of mine brought a commercial bird home and her birds that drank and ate from the same containers, died fro ILT.
So, I go around lately making folks aware of these situations. Its sad.
Down on my profile you will see a link, it may help you, its not a lot of information, but these conditions are not only the commercial birds, it is a huge error to have allowed these conditions that are being passed on to us from the breeders and hatcheries.
Good luck, I'll get off my soap box now. Sorry.