If avian influenza and virulent Newcastle disease are on your rule-out list, what should you do?

• A. Notify state or federal authorities
• B. Notify the AVMA
• C. Not notify anyone until you have a diagnosis
• D. Notify Public Health because these are both zoonotic diseases

Answer: (A)

Prompt reporting to the appropriate authorities is required when avian influenza or virulent Newcastle disease is suspected. These diseases are reportable, so alerting the state or federal veterinary authorities initiates the official response: surveillance, confirmatory testing, and containment measures like quarantines or movement restrictions to prevent spread. You don’t wait for a confirmed diagnosis—the suspicion itself triggers action because of the high risk and potential for rapid transmission. Public health may get involved due to zoonotic potential, but the immediate step is to notify the veterinary authorities who coordinate the response. The AVMA is not the agency to notify for regulatory action.