According to an Immediate Notification dated 12 May to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the veterinary authority reports detecting Newcastle disease virus at Barrio El Progreso in the region of Cárdenas in the southern state of Rivas.

The virus was detected on 24 April in a village poultry flock of 43 birds, six of which had died. Six other birds were destroyed and 31 were slaughtered.

According to the report, the epidemiological surveillance service of the Institute for Animal Health and Protection (IPSA) initiated an epidemiological monitoring in border regions in the south of the country in the municipalities of Cárdenas and San Juan del Sur following notification of Newcastle disease sent by Costa Rica to the OIE and concerning the province of Guanacaste.

In a locality called El Progreso, Cárdenas, sick poultry was found with signs consistent with Newcastle disease.

Movement control of poultry was implemented in the affected zone. On 29 April, samples were taken and immediately sent to the IPSA National Veterinary Diagnosis Laboratory on 30 April 2015; the diagnosis was confirmed on 6 May 2015, then all susceptible population in the outbreak zone was culled.

On 5 May, the Director for Animal Health launched a vaccination campaign against the disease in 33 border communities in the municipalities of Cárdenas and San Juan del Sur; 12,975 poultry from 811 owners were vaccinated. Also, 33 talks were given to 812 poultry owners in both municipalities.

Currently, epidemiological surveillance continues in all affected communities in the affected municipality and the zone around the outbreak. Epidemiological surveillance staff continue to monitor the zone.

The last outbreak of Newcastle disease in Nicaragua was in February 2013.