The California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) provided a status update Aug. 29 on the virulent Newcastle disease (VND) surveillance project in southern California, which is now in its fourth month.

CDFA said the disease has been detected at a total of 117 properties in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and Ventura counties in California.

According to CDFA, as of Aug. 26:

* 96,880 properties have been surveyed;

* 2,679 properties have been placed under quarantine;

* 397 properties have been released from quarantine;

* 671 (combined total) farmers markets, feed stores, pet stores, egg vendors and private veterinary practices were visited by VND outreach teams;

* Zero VND detections have been found at commercial poultry operations;

* 40 commercial operations in southern California are conducting surveillance testing, and

* 176 state and federal personnel are working on this incident.

As this project continues, bird owners everywhere, and especially in southern California, are urged to practice strict biosecurity measures. In southern California, CDFA said these measures include:

1. Do not move birds.

2. Do not bring new birds to the property.

3. Do not let people with birds come into contact with your birds.

VND mostly travels when infected poultry are transported or on the hands and feet of people that came into contact with infected poultry or their droppings, CDFA said.

CDFA has more information on its VND webpage.