Newcastle disease (ND) is a viral disease that can affect a wide variety of avian species, both wild birds and domestic fowl. The most severe forms of the disease, known as velogenic Newcastle disease (VND), are caused by highly pathogenic strains of the virus. VND can cause severe mortality in chickens. VND is not present in Canadian poultry.
In Canada, ND is a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act, and all cases must be reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).