SOB save our birds

[IamRainey]

Sure! There are going to be circumstances that are dicey. That much is life.

Anyone who expects an operation this large to be neat and tidy is fooling themselves. So why focus on the isolated problems and mistakes and not the solution?

BTW, the CDFA guidelines indicate that the disease is very rarely passed to humans by being in contact or consuming eggs or meat from infected birds but why would anyone want to eat infected carcasses?!!?!??!

 

[IamRainey]

So I've watched another hour of the video including the actual kill.

She advises other people to hide or remove their birds at least a dozen times. If, as seems a reasonable assumption, that includes people in the quarantine zones, she advised breaking the law she was well acquainted with. So much for her regard for the law as a former law enforcement person and wife of a serving one.

She makes wild and irrational statements: that they'll kill her horses, that they'll kill people (I doubt she meant this one but at the height of her hysteria she said it), that they're destroying her boat and trailers, that she was targeted for being "poor" and/or for living in a "trashy ghetto", the latter of which is clearly untrue as you can see from pictures of her large home and her repeated statements about the value of her property stored there, i.e. her $70K boat, her $10K saddles, her expensive tack, her $10K "coach". Meanwhile, her financial statement has sweet nothing to do with the quarantine and her proximity to an entire commercial operation that was contaminated and had to be put down.

Finally, the euthanasia itself, though chaotic because agricultural authorities were trying to catch unrestrained birds in an area a quarter to a half acre in size, was not cruel in any way I could see. It may have been shocking or ugly, but if the job was to, by definition, kill chickens, I didn't see cruelty or unnecessarily inhumane treatment. She refers many times to euthanized birds "thumping" but it isn't evident on the video and her credibility is such that I, personally, wouldn't take her accusation at face value.

It's a long and tedious video but, since it's the central topic of this thread, it seemed important and fair to give it due consideration. I've got half an hour yet to watch but, in my opinion (which I recognize as only an opinion), if it proves anything at all, it's that she willfully resisted lawful procedures and, in the process, put other poultry and poultry owners at potential risk. She refers many times to the money she's spent to get her chickens tested and to fight the kill order. If she were to pursue this case in court at further expense, I highly doubt that, using this video as evidence, she'd get a ruling in her favor, no doubt reinforcing her sense of persecution.

 

[Animalfisherwoman]

Everyone look at this video. It's an animation of the month-to-month spread since the beginning:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10215963076407614

 

[Animalfisherwoman]

Someone reached out to CDFA PIO Sandy Cooney and posted this to another VND discussion group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/317894515561024/

After Friday’s viewing the heart wrenching video of the depopulation of the flock in Perris due to Virulent Newcastle Disease, and the pictures posted of State employees dumping carcasses, a call was made to the CDFA. Many questions were posed to Sandy Cooney, and we got answers to them all. Here are the facts as they were presented. The CDFA has also agreed to answer additional questions that pop up, and we will report them as soon as they are made available.

I would love to take note of your questions, and pass them along. If we do not already have the answers, we will find out!

Yes, the CDFA does dispose of depopulated birds in the landfill. The pictures posted by Jose Acosta are correct, the narrative is not. Carcasses are triple bagged, along with any equipment used at the site. Equipment is then commandeered to dig a hole in an area NOT being utilized by the landfill, and the refuse deposited. The depth of the pit is not known at this time. That is one of the follow up questions, as well as whether the bags are sprayed with disinfectant, inside or out, before being buried. Incineration is not cost effective, and would require accelerants, fire personnel, AQMD for emissions, etc.

The CDFA is in the process of hiring 1,000 additional employees to help with the eradication efforts. Many that are currently working in Southern California are new employees. The situation at Kerri Elaine’s property was not typical. Per the CDFA, Paraphrase- Extra time and training is given to new unskilled agents because of the emotional response involved. The agents at Kerri’s felt threatened and at risk, so possibly weren’t as thorough as they could have been.

Despite several posts by people on Facebook, CDFA states there is NO data saying this outbreak came from fighting roosters! Smuggled birds, yes. The only KNOWN transfer of the virus due to cockfighting was the Compton to Ventura spread. Two roosters were taken from Compton to a site in Santa Paula so that the CDFA didn’t kill his best fighters. Those two birds died quickly, and infected the others at the location. At that site, over 4,800 roosters were killed. Of all the positive tests, most have been backyard flocks, for eggs and pets. The term used on official documents, “Backyard Exhibition Birds” is a generic one, and does not denote cockfighting, and it is sometimes chosen by the property owner.

The labs are able to DNA trace the virus from one bird to another, one positive site to another. Because of this, they have an exact timeline and movement detail. The virus mutates predictably, so they can see whether it is the same strain that currently is affecting Southern California, or a different strain popping up from a different location. The strain currently in Southern California originated in Belize, and traveled through Mexico to Compton in May 2018.

This strain of vND is especially hot, causing a 90% mortality. The remaining 10% may not die, but they continue to shed active virus, which will infect other birds. vND is not a virus normally found in the US, but is always brought in, either by a bird or by a human that has had contact with active virus. It is only by quarantine and control that the virus can be eradicated in our local flocks. There are vaccines for Newcastle Disease, BUT there are several different strains, and the virulent strain has no vaccine or treatment.

During an outbreak, vaccinating birds will not be helpful. Vaccinated birds will still have a 60% mortality, but will leave the remaining 40% to continue shedding the virus. A vaccinated bird will not show positive for the active virus, and the labs can tell which strain is in the bird, i.e vaccine or the live strain. This is not helpful to the bird or owner, because again, the live virus will continue to be shed. The incubation time for the chicken from contact with the virus to dying is 2-5 days.

 

[IamRainey]

Everyone look at this video.

Is the video documenting the spread available anywhere else? I don't FB and I don't want their damned cookies.

Meanwhile, thanks for that fact sheet in response to Kerri's video. I didn't realize that recovered birds could continue to shed the virus. Or that getting birds vaccinated once the virus is in an outbreak will just increase the number of birds contaminating others and accelerate the spread of vND.

Looks like there is still important information for us to learn and factor into how we keep our flocks!

 

[Animalfisherwoman]

Is it available anywhere else? I don't FB and I don't want their damned cookies.

You should be able to click on the video above.

 

[IamRainey]

Right, but I don't want FB's cookies and the video won't launch unless you accept them.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Someone reached out to CDFA PIO Sandy Cooney and posted this to another VND discussion group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/317894515561024/

After Friday’s viewing the heart wrenching video of the depopulation of the flock in Perris due to Virulent Newcastle Disease, and the pictures posted of State employees dumping carcasses, a call was made to the CDFA. Many questions were posed to Sandy Cooney, and we got answers to them all. Here are the facts as they were presented. The CDFA has also agreed to answer additional questions that pop up, and we will report them as soon as they are made available.

I would love to take note of your questions, and pass them along. If we do not already have the answers, we will find out!

Yes, the CDFA does dispose of depopulated birds in the landfill. The pictures posted by Jose Acosta are correct, the narrative is not. Carcasses are triple bagged, along with any equipment used at the site. Equipment is then commandeered to dig a hole in an area NOT being utilized by the landfill, and the refuse deposited. The depth of the pit is not known at this time. That is one of the follow up questions, as well as whether the bags are sprayed with disinfectant, inside or out, before being buried. Incineration is not cost effective, and would require accelerants, fire personnel, AQMD for emissions, etc.

The CDFA is in the process of hiring 1,000 additional employees to help with the eradication efforts. Many that are currently working in Southern California are new employees. The situation at Kerri Elaine’s property was not typical. Per the CDFA, Paraphrase- Extra time and training is given to new unskilled agents because of the emotional response involved. The agents at Kerri’s felt threatened and at risk, so possibly weren’t as thorough as they could have been.

Despite several posts by people on Facebook, CDFA states there is NO data saying this outbreak came from fighting roosters! Smuggled birds, yes. The only KNOWN transfer of the virus due to cockfighting was the Compton to Ventura spread. Two roosters were taken from Compton to a site in Santa Paula so that the CDFA didn’t kill his best fighters. Those two birds died quickly, and infected the others at the location. At that site, over 4,800 roosters were killed. Of all the positive tests, most have been backyard flocks, for eggs and pets. The term used on official documents, “Backyard Exhibition Birds” is a generic one, and does not denote cockfighting, and it is sometimes chosen by the property owner.

The labs are able to DNA trace the virus from one bird to another, one positive site to another. Because of this, they have an exact timeline and movement detail. The virus mutates predictably, so they can see whether it is the same strain that currently is affecting Southern California, or a different strain popping up from a different location. The strain currently in Southern California originated in Belize, and traveled through Mexico to Compton in May 2018.

This strain of vND is especially hot, causing a 90% mortality. The remaining 10% may not die, but they continue to shed active virus, which will infect other birds. vND is not a virus normally found in the US, but is always brought in, either by a bird or by a human that has had contact with active virus. It is only by quarantine and control that the virus can be eradicated in our local flocks. There are vaccines for Newcastle Disease, BUT there are several different strains, and the virulent strain has no vaccine or treatment.

During an outbreak, vaccinating birds will not be helpful. Vaccinated birds will still have a 60% mortality, but will leave the remaining 40% to continue shedding the virus. A vaccinated bird will not show positive for the active virus, and the labs can tell which strain is in the bird, i.e vaccine or the live strain. This is not helpful to the bird or owner, because again, the live virus will continue to be shed. The incubation time for the chicken from contact with the virus to dying is 2-5 days.

This is so pathetic. The concept of eradicating viruses is madness; it never happens. The only rational approach is to build immunity. But we live in a world gone mad.

 

[getaclue]

Animalfisherwoman, this is from the link you provided.
EUTHANASIA OF BIRDS
I posted this as a reply, but I am re-posting it as a new post, so that people can get the information that they need. Here is the post:
For those commenting on stomping on birds, drowning, etc. I am a retired veterinary technician, ACO and I am a state licensed trapper/wildlife control operator. In the state of California, only certain methods of euthanasia are legal in the field. The most common methods are CO2, and shooting. Cervical dislocation is also legal for birds. Lethal injection is also legal, but is not practical in these types of situations, and introduces a new set of issues. When I have to dispatch problem/sick wildlife, I will sometimes take an animal to the shelter, but most often, use CO2 or shooting. Both are painless and death is genttle and takes a few minutes if C02 , and instant if shooting/dislocation are done properly. Both are approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association as researched and accepted humane methods of euthanasia. The word euthanasia is from Latin and means “good death.” No one’s going to be out there stomping on baby chicks, that is absolutely ridiculous-and if they are, can be prosecuted for felony animal cruelty, even in an emergency situation like this one. If you are reading claims Of barbaric dispatch/culling methods and it sounds too outrageous to be true , that’s because it probably is. don’t buy into hysterical posts.

The issue of cockfighting keeps coming up. When I have a little time, I will post a series of photos from some of the largest cockfighting raids I participated in-some of the largest in CA history. I participated in 2 raids totaling nearly 5.000 birds on the central coast (and I have the scars as mementos. If you think these people care about anything other than making a buck and you don’t think they’re moving their birds—,you’re seriously mistaken.

From the California Poultry Federation website...

"In a state known for its huge agricultural economy, the California poultry industry has an enormous impact producing sales in excess of $2.5 billion annually, making it one of the state’s agricultural leaders.

The California poultry industry provides jobs for over 25,000 people throughout the state and indirectly to tens of thousands more in affiliated industries including trucking and feed suppliers. California poultry industry employees earn more than $250 million annually, working in a variety of jobs from farm managers to processing plant workers, researchers, accountants and poultry executives."

This is what's at risk folks, a huge chunk of a national sized economy that impacts hundreds of thousands of working people all the way down to the McDonald's worker.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Those two birds died quickly, and infected the others at the location. At that site, over 4,800 roosters were killed.

What type of facility was this? An industrial poultry facility overcrowded with stressed, unhealthy chickens pumped up on antibiotics and hormones? Did the 90% that died die from vNCD, or culling?