Ag Secretary Russell Redding and Troy Ott, dean of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Science, held a town hall Tuesday at the Pennsylvania Farm Show to discuss the state’s response to highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu.
“With the expertise and technical assistance of partners like Penn State University, Pennsylvania has been a national forerunner in taking critical steps to protect livestock and poultry from animal disease threats,” Redding said.
The state has been on high alert since the beginning of the bird flu outbreak in 2022, and the Shapiro administration has implemented quarantines to protect the dairy and poultry industries. To date, there have been no infections in dairy cattle or humans in Pennsylvania.
There have also been no infections in commercial poultry in the state since February. The last confirmed infection was in a backyard flock of 20 birds in Venango County in October. None of these birds were producing eggs or products used or sold beyond that farm.
In November, the Department of Agriculture began precautionary bulk testing of milk for bird flu from Pennsylvania farms as an added measure to prevent the spread of avian influenza. The state’s program is USDA-funded at no cost to dairy farmers and meets the USDA standards recently mandated for milk testing.
Samples from nearly all of Pennsylvania’s 4,027 dairy farms are being tested through the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System, which includes Penn State University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory. No virus has been detected in Pennsylvania cattle, but cases continue to rise in other states.
“Gov. Shapiro fully recognizes the potential impact an outbreak could have on both the animals and citizens of Pennsylvania,” Ott said. “He is taking swift and proactive action, utilizing all available tools to minimize the risk of introduction and to swiftly contain and eradicate the virus should it be detected. At Penn State, we are committed to supporting these efforts by enhancing the surveillance testing program through our Animal Diagnostics Laboratory, educating producers to strengthen their biosecurity measures, and conducting cutting-edge research to better understand and combat viral infections.”
In April, when bird flu was first detected in dairy herds in other states, Pennsylvania issued a quarantine order requiring testing of dairy cattle entering the state. This strategic move was soon followed by USDA and other states.
The Shapiro administration also provided a special fund of $31 million to support Pennsylvania poultry farmers to pay for testing and get reimbursed for losses to their flocks and improve biosecurity. The state has also expanded veterinary lab services in Western Pennsylvania to speed diagnosis and response to disease outbreaks and research technology to detect and prevent future outbreaks.
As the state hosts the 109th Pennsylvania Farm Show, all farmers are encouraged to visit the Department’s Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services booth in the North Hall to learn more about biosecurity practices for their farm. Educational events, stage presentations and industry meetings will be held throughout the show, providing opportunities for farmers and producers to connect with experts and resources.
“The PA Farm Show is an opportunity to showcase the best of Pennsylvania agriculture. It allows the public to learn about all the behind the scenes work that veterinarians and animal health workers do to keep animals and our food system safe,” said state veterinarian Dr. Alex Hamberg. “We hope that key takeaways for anyone who visits the show is the importance of biosecurity and the impact of the Shapiro administration in action.”
As a precautionary measure, live bird exhibits at the 2025 Farm Show are limited to birds headed for market, to prevent any possible spread of infection back to farms. Visitors to the Farm Show are not permitted to handle or pet birds. Those exhibiting live animals must present a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection signed by an accredited veterinarian within 30 days prior to their arrival. Veterinarians visually check animals for signs of disease upon arrival and during daily rounds while the animals are in the complex.
Source: Lancaster Farming
