Failure to isolate sick chickens: A preventable driver of Newcastle disease spread in smallholder poultry farms in Banadir, Somalia

Abstract Newcastle disease (ND) remains a major cause of mortality, economic loss, and food insecurity in smallholder poultry systems across Africa. This article examines the failure to isolate clinically sick chickens as a preventable driver of ND transmission in Banadir, Somalia. Drawing on evidence from African village poultry farms and live bird markets, it highlights how mixed-age flocks, free-range management, shared feeding and watering equipment, poor waste disposal, uncontrolled bird movement, and delayed recognition of disease signs increase opportunities for virus spread. The risk is further amplified by live bird trade, inadequate quarantine of newly introduced birds, weak biosecurity practices, limited access to veterinary services and vaccines, and insufficient farmer knowledge. In Banadir’s resource-constrained poultry systems, a single infected bird can repeatedly expose susceptible flockmates through direct contact and environmental contamination. The consequences of ND extend beyond flock losses, threatening household nutrition, income generation, and resilience among low-income and women-dependent households. The article recommends immediate isolation of sick birds, quarantine of newly purchased poultry, restriction of sick-bird movement and sale, routine cleaning and safe carcass disposal, vaccination, rapid outbreak reporting, community-based surveillance, and strengthened extension services. Consistent implementation of these low-cost measures can reduce ND transmission and improve the sustainability of smallholder poultry production in Banadir.