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.
