Backyard bird owners urged to watch for Newcastle disease

It hasn't shown up here in San Diego County yet, but county Agriculture, Weights and Measures officials urged backyard bird owners to be on the lookout for a highly contagious bird-killing disease: virulent Newcastle disease.

San Diego County Agriculture Commissioner Ha Dang urged bird owners to call the California Department of Food and Agriculture's Sick Bird Hotline at (866) 922-2473 if they notice birds exhibiting virulent Newcastle symptoms, such as coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, muscle tremors, twisting of the head or neck and sudden death.

Virulent Newcastle is a contagious, deadl...