Outbreak of Newcastle disease in kept pigeons in the city of Chemnitz
Vaccination recommendation for pigeons
On 14 January 2021, Newcastle disease (ND) was officially detected in a pigeon flock in the Markersdorf district. The National Reference Laboratory (Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut) detected the pigeon-type avian orthoavulavirus-1. This is a representative of the avian paramyxoviruses. Newcastle disease, also known as paramyxovirosis, is a notifiable animal disease and is controlled by the authorities.
ND is endemic in many countries in Central and South America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. However, outbreaks of ND are also repeatedly reported in Europe. Vaccination is mandatory for chickens and turkeys in Germany.
The virus is highly contagious and can infect many other bird species besides pigeons (e.g. chickens, quails, geese, wild birds).
Depending on the strain of the virus, the infection leads to very severe courses of disease with sudden and very high mortality. However, very mild courses are also possible, up to the complete absence of signs of disease. Typical signs in pigeons are diarrhoea, orientation difficulties such as suddenly stopping, running into the wall, stumbling or missing the food grain when pecking. Neck twisting, unilateral paralysis of the wings and legs with the resulting inability to fly are also observed.
Human infections are rare, usually with mild signs of illness and usually occur after intensive contact with the animal.
The disease in poultry causes considerable suffering for the individual animal and sometimes high losses in the flock. Regular vaccination of pigeons against the virus has proven to be the only effective control measure against ND.
The Food Monitoring and Veterinary Office of the City of Chemnitz therefore recommends that owners of pigeons have their entire flock vaccinated regularly.