How does Exotic Newcastle Disease spread from farm-to-farm, bird-to-bird?
Healthy birds are infected when there is direct contact with infected bodily discharges of infected birds such as droppings and secretions from the nose, mouth, and eyes. Close confinement causes a rapid spread of disease among birds. All bodily discharges contain high concentration of END virus. Therefore, the virus-bearing material can be picked up on insects, rodents, containers, shoes and clothing and carried from a sick flock to a healthy flock. Any person on the infected farm can spread END virus including manure haulers, rendering truck drivers, vaccination and debeaking crews, egg service people, load-out crews, chick and poultry delivery personnel, and poultry farm owners, employees, and visitors.
