The disease affects poultry and other birds in captivity and is highly contagious. Sweden has an average of one to three outbreaks annually, which require the culling of large numbers of poultry.
New and more effective vaccines that have become available are one reason vaccination is now being introduced, according to a press release from the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
"It is significantly more cost-effective to start vaccinating poultry and birds than to continue to combat outbreaks," says Emma Johansson, project manager at the authority.
The cost per animal is approximately 50 öre and the vaccine is given in conjunction with other vaccinations.
Newcastle disease is serious for poultry, but not dangerous to humans.
