After 50 or so years it seems that this virus may have changed to become better at causing disease. Importantly, the virus can infect many species of birds including pigeons.
To the best of my knowledge, as of 14/4/26, should pigeons become infected then they could all be slaughtered.
I am not aware of the virus being found in racing pigeons in the EU. That could be simply good luck. We have been lucky with Avian Influenza where pigeons are remarkably resistant to infection. I would not expect this to be the case with Newcastle disease.
Your best protection is correct vaccination of all pigeons in your loft.
Newcastle disease will infect pigeons but the virus is the chicken version rather than the pigeon paramyxovirus. At this time, we must assume that the current pigeon paramyxovirus vaccines will offer some protection. Make sure all your pigeons are vaccinated, including young birds as soon as possible.
The following has been copied from Watt Poultry (14/4/26): –
New occurrences of Newcastle disease have been confirmed in Germany, Spain and Poland, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) reported.
Germany
Six more poultry flocks in Germany have been affected by the virus, according to WOAH.
In one report, WOAH stated that a flock of 4,000 laying hens in Gangkofen tested positive for Newcastle disease.
Another report, however, detailed five flock infections. Those include:
- 70,000 broilers in Königs Wusterhausen
- 40,000 broilers in Spreenhagen
- Another flock of 40,000 broilers in Spreenhagen
- 40,000 laying hens in Neuhausen/Spree
- 60,000 broilers in another flock in Königs Wusterhausen
With these latest cases, Germany has had 35 flocks affected by Newcastle disease since February. Prior to that, the country had not had any confirmed cases of the disease since 2008, according to WOAH.
Spain
Two more poultry flocks in Spain have been hit by Newcastle disease. In one instance, 30,000 laying hens in El Ràfol de Salem was affected. The other flock included 26,300 broilers in Castelló de Rugat.
Newcastle disease has now hit eight poultry flocks in Spain this year. Before January, Spain had been free of the disease since 2022.
Poland
The latest cases of Newcastle disease to be reported in Poland involved a flock of 37,115 broilers in Kiełcz and a flock of 2,426 broilers in Chobienice.
Poland has been battling Newcastle disease since September 2024. These latest cases bring the number of poultry flocks hit by the virus since that time beyond 140.