LOS ANGELES county CA under bird quarantine :(

[BreanneRN]

Common vaccination protocols in the United States for commercial poultry operations
The domestic poultry industry is not mandated to provide vaccinations against specific pathogens by any governing body; thus, each producer can determine what vaccines they would like to administer. This is typically based on geographical location, life span, perceived risks, and other components; however, industry experts believe the prevalence of NDV vaccination to be close to 100% for intensively managed domestic poultry in the United States. Long-lived birds, specifically broiler breeders and layers, are usually vaccinated multiple times for NDV whereas shorter lived birds typically receive one vaccine, either in ovo or at 1 day of age in the hatchery (Personal communication, U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, 2016). The in ovo vaccine is a recombinant herpesvirus of turkeys/Newcastle disease virus vaccine, whereas the vaccine administered to day-old birds is typically a live NDV vaccine. Broiler breeders often receive multiple rounds of vaccinations for NDV of both live and inactivated vaccines in order to provide the hatchling with sufficient levels of maternal antibodies. Layers tend to be vaccinated less intensively and typically receive a live vaccine as it is simpler to administer (often as a spray or in drinking water). The NDV vaccines are primarily designed to prevent endemic low virulence strains that cause mild respiratory signs from infecting domestic poultry which, if unresolved at the time of slaughter, often result in carcass condemnation which causes losses for producers. Industry insiders believe the U.S. domestic poultry population is still, despite high levels of vaccination, highly susceptible to velogenic strains of NDV in the event of viral introduction.

 

[BreanneRN]

I have to reiterate my suggestion that grant money should be found and expended on research of better ways to deal with mutating viruses... Before it is too late.
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticl...nurs&uac=172288HT&spon=24&impID=2034443&faf=1

 

[Eric Vey]

Throwing money at research might help. It hasn't helped much to stop citrus "greening" a bacterial infection, but it has pointed out that citrus was bred for more productive trees that are less resistant to disease.

So some research is going into old rootstock, others are saying gene splicing may have the only cure and you know how that goes over politically

 

[BreanneRN]

Citrus greening is a little "off topic" here, but progress is being made in that area, thanks to some people able to think "outside the box" (which is what needs to happen for VND as well). I'll refer you to this article... https://agresearchmag.ars.usda.gov/2013/aug/citrus Here in California, this disease, spread by an insect vector the Citrus Psyllid, has primarily been a problem for backyard growers... Due to urban sprawl, there are no longer any large commercial citrus orchards in Los Angeles or in Orange County either, to my knowledge. My family has been involved in citrus production (elsewhere) since about 1940 though we have had knowledge of the disease for at least 15 years, it has not effected our orchards, possibly because it prefers a more tropical climate. Interestingly, increasing temperature is the bodies natural defense against viral and bacterial infection... Perhaps increasing the temps in those commercial egg production facilities periodically might be a way to circumvent these outbreaks. It would probably temporarily decrease egg production, but perhaps that loss would be offset by a lower electric bill (and not having to kill all your laying hens). Happily, it is possible some progress is being made with Ebola Virus as well. I refer to this article on the value of dietary Selenium https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/...hy-the-ebola-virus-is-so-deadly/#7ee608f1562c and this https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4288282/

 

[Eric Vey]

According to the epidemiologists, weather changes negatively affects Newcastle, so changing temperatures in the egg house may be beneficial. But I think that only reduces the spread of the disease, not curing or even suppressing the disease in infected birds.

 

[BreanneRN]

According to the epidemiologists, weather changes negatively affects Newcastle, so changing temperatures in the egg house may be beneficial. But I think that only reduces the spread of the disease, not curing or even suppressing the disease in infected birds.

Hard to say, really. I note that it is now hot and there is a slow-down in the disease spread/outbreaks. Again, we need research and studies done to find better ways of dealing with this and other viruses as well. That is where funding should go in the future IMO. I have to wonder where we would be if no funding for chicken annihalation became available. Would the USDA/CDFA still be sitting on there hands watching the disease spread? What we are doing now with this disease belongs to the dark ages. I am sure there is a better way waiting to be found. Innovation is not dead in America, but it does need financial support. The outbreak itself is an opportunity for study and research. And you never know what side benefits for humans that may be found inadvertently from said research. There have been some studies that show that NewCastles has the ability to selectively infect cancer cells in humans and destroy tumors. https://invisiverse.wonderhowto.com...-for-cure-from-mysterious-bird-virus-0176139/

 

[Eric Vey]

Poultry veterinary medicine is based upon care for commercial houses, because that's who pays the vets. Only recently has poultry been considered valuable enough for a vet to try and save it as they would a parrot.

The way that works is a worker hears a cough in the house and six or 12 birds are pulled out at random and dispatched. Then necropsies are preformed and tests are run for everything that can be tested. That's what my state lab will do for $50 for up to 4 birds, a nominal fee for a business.

Obviously this procedure won't work for backyard flocks.

 

[Kiki]

Poultry veterinary medicine is based upon care for commercial houses, because that's who pays the vets. Only recently has poultry been considered valuable enough for a vet to try and save it as they would a parrot.

The way that works is a worker hears a cough in the house and six or 12 birds are pulled out at random and dispatched. Then necropsies are preformed and tests are run for everything that can be tested. That's what my state lab will do for $50 for up to 4 birds, a nominal fee for a business.

Obviously this procedure won't work for backyard flocks.

This method does work for backyard flocks. There are some of us that willing send birds for a necropsy to know for sure what could be in our flock.

 

[Eric Vey]

This method does work for backyard flocks. There are some of us that willing send birds for a necropsy to know for sure what could be in our flock.

Hard to send very many if there are only three or four as is the limit in many places. And many people wouldn't think much of killing a pet with a cough.

 

[igorsMistress]

Except they do. People are screaming, crying etc and trying to blow this up into the state is treating my babies horribly. Death isn't pretty and if they think workers have time to let them hold their chickens and lovingly stroke their feathers as they die, they're wrong. Many, instead of cooperating, are hiding birds and creating a spectacle.