A recent outbreak of END ( Viscerotropic Virulent Newcastle disease) was diagnosed in a flock of laying hens producing table eggs in the Province of Rogaland during mid-September.  The flock of 7,500 was depopulated and a quarantine zone was established.

Authorities in Norway forbid vaccination against Newcastle disease although racing pigeons are vaccinated against pigeon paramyxovirus.  Neighboring Sweden and Denmark have experienced recent cases of END.  It is unclear why authorities in Norway preclude routine vaccination against Newcastle disease as practiced in areas with commercial poultry on five continents.  Infection of susceptible laying flocks in the U.K. occurred during the mid 1980's after  consuming feed contaminated with pigeon droppings. There were no outbreaks in commercial flocks after pigeon paramyxovirus infection appeared in the U.S. attributed to universal immunity as a result of routine vaccination.