G/SPS/GEN/1560  
29 June 2017 
(17-3516) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original:  Spanish  
 
  DECLARATION OF VELOGENIC NEWCASTLE DISEASE -FREE STATUS  
COMMUNICATION FROM COSTA RICA  
The following communication , dated  27 June 2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Costa Rica . 
 
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1.  Newcastle disease is a highly conta gious and often serious infection  affecting birds  that is 
prevalent worldwide and caused by a virus from the Paramyxoviridae family ; it has one of the 
highest rates of morbidity and mortality, can lead to heavy financial losses , and poses a threat to  
food security by reducing the availability of easily acquired  animal protein with  a high nutritional 
value . 
2.  Through Executive Decree No. 25088 -MAG of 2 5 March  1996, the whole  territory of the 
Republic of Costa Rica was declared free of velogenic Newcastle disea se, thereby meeting the 
conditions for the export of  poultry  meat and its derivatives  to other countries free of the  disease.  
3.  On 22 April 2015, high mortality in backyard poultry in the village of Bella Vista (district of 
Santa Cecilia, canton of La Cruz) was reported to the National Animal Health Service (SENASA) of 
the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock . In response, SENASA authorities carried out an 
epidemiological investigation which confirmed on 2 6 April 2015 that the cause of mortality was 
velogeni c Newcastle disease virus.  
4.  SENASA, exercising the powers set out  in Law No. 8495 of 6 April 2006, declared a minor  
state of emergency  through Resolutions Nos . SENASA -DG-R015-2015 and 
SENASA -DG-R016-2015, both of 2 7 April 2015, and ordered  the implementatio n of a series of 
general and compulsory sanitary measures in order to control the disease.  
5.  In addition, through Executive Decree No. 39100 -MAG of 1 8 May 2015, the Executive Power 
declared a nationwide epidemic and health emergency  due to the presence of ve logenic 
Newcastle disease in Costa Rican territory, and declared the prevention, control and eradication of 
the disease a matter of public policy  and social interest.  
6.  The disease eradication strategy involved  the slaughter  of all domestic birds and wild bi rds in 
captivity that manifested the disease . Furthermore, quarantine was imposed  in areas of the 
country where  mortalit ies caused by the v irus were detected , and other control measures , 
including  disinfection, epidemiological surveillance , and control of the movement of risk goods  and 
animals , were introduced.  G/SPS/GEN/1560  
- 2 - 
  7.  Following  the application of the measures to control the outbreak  by SENASA  and the 
implementation of the corresponding velogenic Newcastle disease epidemiological surveillance 
strategy  in accordance  with the international guidelines established by the World Organi sation for 
Animal Health (OIE) in Chapter 10.9 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code and Chapter 2.3.14 of 
the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals, we are pleased  to inform 
Members that all Costa Rican territory has been found free of Newcastle disease , as set out in 
Executive Decree No. 40301 -MAG of 2 7 April 2017. 
8.  For further information on the measures applied by SENASA to enable  the country to be 
declared free o f this disease , please address enquiries  to: bernardo.jaen@senasa.go.cr . 
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