Poultry farmers get disease vaccination reminder
AUSTRALIA - Tasmania's poultry producers are being urged to vaccinate their birds against newcastle disease.The highly contagious viral disease affects domestic poultry, cage and aviary birds and wild birds.
Millions of chickens were slaughtered during a series of outbreaks on the mainland between 1998 and 2002.
Compulsory vaccination of commercial poultry flocks has already been introduced in all other states to minimise the risk of further outbreaks.
Compulsory vaccination will come into effect in Tasmania later this year for commercial poultry producers with more than 1,000 birds.
But the state's chief veterinary officer, Rod Andrewartha, says a permit system is in place allowing producers to start vaccinating now.
Source: ABC
29 August 2005
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