If new, unvaccinated birds are brought into an infected flock, they will also become infected. Since infected birds are shedding virus, they will spread the disease as long as they are alive. This means that once the disease enters a coop, the environment will most likely be contaminated for a very long time (months to years) even if all birds are gone. While the virus is easily killed in its purified form, the virus can live for years in the dander. But Marek's Disease can develop in older birds as well.īirds become infected with Marek's Disease by inhaling virus-laden dander.
The clinical disease is typically seen between 6 weeks to 30 weeks of age. The percentage of illness and death in a flock can be anywhere from 1% to up to 50%. Silkies in particular, are highly susceptible to Marek's Disease. Leghorns and light egg-type breeds tend to be more vulnerable to disease than meat type breeds. The percentage of clinically sick birds in a flock depends on the strain of virus (some virus strains are more virulent than others) and the breed of bird. Not all infected birds, however, will get sick. Like many herpes viruses, once an animal becomes infected, it will be infected for life. Marek's Disease affects chickens and is caused by a chicken herpes virus.
So here are some clarifications concerning this disease. There has been much discussion and misinformation about Marek's Disease.
Yet, it is one of the most preventable illnesses out there. Marek's Disease is by far one of the most common illnesses in small flocks and not treatable once the clinical signs have begun.
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