On Tuesday, 26 May 2026, FVE and FLI convened a joint webinar on Newcastle Disease in Europe, bringing together nearly 400 participants. The webinar spotlighted this priority disease of poultry, providing expert insights from speakers representing not only policy and epidemiology but also valuable field perspectives, aiming to view the problem and potential solutions from multiple levels and perspectives.
The recording (HERE) and slides (below) are now available!
Read the report, HERE
Jane Clark (FVE Vice President) opened the webinar, and expert speakers shared valuable insights:
- Sanna Mesman (DG Sante) presented EU rules on prevention, control and surveillance of Newcastle Disease. Slides HERE
- Carola Sauter-Louis (FLI) presented with Christian Grund (FLI) on the epidemiological situation of Newcastle Disease in Europe, with a focus on Germany, as well as current circulating strains and vaccine programme considerations. Slides HERE
- Jakub Wojciechowski (VET-LAB Brudzew) poultry disease specialist veterinarian) presented on confronting Newcastle Disease: Frontline insights from the Polish field. Slides HERE
The panel discussion moderated by Piotr Kwiecinski (FVE Treasurer) featured Ronald Günther (AVEC), Stanislaw Winiarczyk (Polish National Veterinary Institute), discussing:
- The role that national institutes and reference laboratories play in standardising immune monitoring approaches
- How the sector can support harmonised vaccination policies
- Best practices for assessing vaccine take and flock immunity in commercial poultry operations
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Key success factors, and common pitfalls, in ensuring consistency of biosecurity and vaccination across integrated systems
Key messages:
- EU rules and regionalisation correctly put in place are important tools to control ND outbreaks
- Vaccination is an effective preventive tool if: correctly performed; with sufficient coverage; complementary to appropriate biosecurity measure
- The three pillars of Newcastle Disease control are: Immunoprophylaxis; Biosecurity; Surveillance – every flock, every house
- It is important to verify whether a vaccination programme has had an adequate, sufficiently uniform and practically useful immune response at flock level. Serological monitoring is extremely useful, but must be interpreted in the context of the flock.
- A coordinated approach is required: National institutes and reference laboratories play a central role in standardising immune monitoring approaches
- Proper multi-stage vaccination, with a good technique to cover most birds at the first take, is required.
- Adequate training in vaccination technique is vital
FVE Vice President Jane Clark concluded by thanking all speakers, panelists and participants for joining this webinar providing vital insights into the European Newcastle Disease situation. She also drew attention to the FVE VMP gaps and needs for geese and ducks survey. Open now to all those with relevant expertise and field experience. Additionally, there will be a Newcastle Disease Centenary Event on 17th September 2026, in APHA Weybridge (UK) and online.
