Photo: Getty Images
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is intensifying efforts to combat bird flu after new outbreaks were reported across the state. The virus, known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), has been detected in commercial poultry farms in five counties, including Lancaster, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lebanon, and Lehigh. A task force of state and federal agents is being deployed to each affected farm to contain the virus. These farms will be quarantined, and movement of poultry products is restricted within a 10-kilometer radius of the infected areas.
The outbreak was first confirmed on January 27, 2025, in a 50,000-bird flock in Lehigh County. The H5N1 virus strain, which has led to the loss of over 153 million birds nationwide since February 2022, was identified in the flock. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the virus is highly infectious and generally fatal to domestic birds, but poses no health risk to the general public if poultry products are cooked properly.
Governor Josh Shapiro's administration is working closely with the USDA and other federal agencies to monitor and control the spread of the virus. Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding emphasized the importance of swift action, stating, "Pennsylvania continues to take swift, aggressive action to protect our farmers and our dairy and poultry industries from avian influenza." The state has also implemented strict biosecurity measures and continues to test poultry on farms and in live bird markets.
The Shapiro administration has proposed significant investments in the 2025-26 budget to bolster the state's response to animal health crises. This includes funding for a new animal testing laboratory and an Agriculture Innovation Fund. While the dairy industry in Pennsylvania has not been affected by the virus, the state remains vigilant in its efforts to protect both the poultry and dairy sectors.