Aus confirms ND in import consignment from US
The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service has confirmed the presence of Newcastle disease in a consignment of imported pigeons being held in quarantine.
Blood tests have confirmed that a number of birds in a consignment from the US are carrying the highly contagious disease.
Australia remains free from this disease, reports Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
The birds are being held in an AQIS quarantine facility in Victoria as part of standard import requirements. This biosecurity facility that ensures there is no direct contact with the outside environment, including domestic birds.
All birds imported into Australia are required to spend 35 days in post-arrival quarantine for observation and routine testing to confirm their health status.
The importation and quarantine of birds operates on an ‘all in, all out’ procedure and as such no birds have been released from this consignment.
The detection and containment of the disease within the quarantine facility shows the importance of quarantine measures and demonstrates that Australia’s biosecurity system works.
Source: Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
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