How Can Pet-Bird and Backyard- Poultry Enthusiasts Help Control and Prevent END?
END is also a threat to the caged-bird industry and poultry hobbyists. Birds illegally smuggled into the United States are not quarantined and tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and therefore may carry the exotic Newcastle virus. Owners of pet birds should • Request certification from suppliers that birds are legally imported or are of U.S. stock, are healthy prior to shipment, and will be transported in new or thoroughly disinfected containers. • Maintain records of all sales and shipments of flocks. • Isolate all newly purchased birds for at least 30 days. • Restrict movement of personnel between new and old birds. Amazon parrots are difficult to raise domestically. Anyone who is offering to sell a large number of young parrots should be suspected of smuggling or purchasing smuggled birds.
