Medicine. Newcastle Disease virus }.}. Newcastle disease is a contagious bird disease affecting many domestic and wild avian species; it is transmissible to humans. It was first identified in Java, Indonesia in 1926, and in 1927 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England (from whence it got its name). However, it may have been prevalent as early as 1898, when a disease wiped out all the domestic fowl in northwest Scotland. Its effects are most notable in domestic poultry due to their high susceptibility and the potential for severe impacts of an epizootic on the poultry industries. It is endemic to many countries. Exposure of humans to infected birds (for example in poultry processing plants) can cause mild conjunctivitis and influenza-like symptoms, but the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) otherwise poses no hazard to human health. Interest in the use of NDV as an anticancer agent has arisen from the ability of NDV to selectively kill human tumour cells with limited toxicity to normal cells. No treatment for NDV exists, but the use of prophylactic vaccines and sanitary measures reduces the likelihood of outbreaks. (An OSH glossary used in safety and health at work which is, adopted by ILO