The veterinary authority has sent Follow Up Report No.3 dated 26 March to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

The report outlines five outbreaks of Newcastle disease starting between 16 January and 5 March.

The most recent was in a group of 13 lesser kestrels at a zoo in Jerusalem in which two birds died and a third showed symptoms; the birds have been quarantined and no further birds have showed signs of infection.

The other four outbreaks were in domestic poultry.

The first outbreak was in a flock of backyard local chickens in Tel-Aviv; all 12 birds died.

This was followed on 25 February with a layer flock at Zoran-Qadima in Hamerkaz. A drop in lay was observed and the flock of 4,730 35-week-old hens was destroyed after they tested positive for the virus.

A turkey flock at Shalwar in Hadarom was hit on 28 February. There, 550 of the birds in a flock of 11,000 17-week-old birds showed symptoms and 300 died; the rest were destroyed.

On 2 March, a farm experienced morbidity and mortality in a 72,000-strong flock of six-week-old broilers. Around 10 per cent showed symptoms. The whole flock was destroyed.