Tracking avian flu in Pennsylvania

RIGHT ALONG ROUTE 283, BAILEY, IN RESPONSE TO ALL OF THIS, AND IN RESPONSE TO SECRETARY REDDING’S COMMENTS YESTERDAY, GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO ANNOUNCED THAT HE’S PROVIDING EXTRA SUPPORT FOR PA POULTRY FARMERS DURING THIS TIME FOR THIS SPIKE IN AVIAN FLU CASES THAT WE’RE SEEING ACROSS THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, CASES THAT COULD WIPE OUT ENTIRE FLOCKS ALTOGETHER. A TEAM OF OVER 40 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN OUT ON THE GROUND ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA, HELPING MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF AVIAN FLU. SHAPIRO IS ALSO ADDING A TEAM DEDICATED TO AVIAN FLU RESPONSE, GETTING MORE RESOURCES FOR TESTING AND BIOSECURITY. AFTER CONVERSATIONS WITH AGRICULTURE EXPERTS LIKE SECRETARY OF AG RUSSELL REDDING, WE SPENT SOME TIME WITH GOVERNOR SHAPIRO TALKING ABOUT THIS, AND IN THE CONTEXT OF HOW ARE WE RESPONDING AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO. AND IT’S COMFORTING TO KNOW THAT PENNSYLVANIA HAS A RECOVERY FUND, UNLIKE ANY OTHER STATE. THERE’S NOT A STATE IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS A RECOVERY FUND. SECRETARY REDDING SAYS THIS IS THE HARDEST HIT. PENNSYLVANIA HAS BEEN WITH AVIAN FLU SINCE THE 1980S. FROM WHAT I’VE BEEN TOLD ABOUT THAT TIME PERIOD, THAT IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST DEVASTATING DISASTERS THAT’S EVER HAPPENED TO PENNSYLVANIA. GRANT FROM THE PA FARM BUREAU SAYS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTTING DOWN THE MOVEMENT OF BIRDS AT THAT TIME WAS THE BIGGEST IMPACT. BUT WHAT THEY’VE LEARNED SINCE THEN AND HAVE IMPLEMENTED WITH STATEWIDE TESTING LABS IS A POSITIVE. THE STATE HAS PUT RESOURCES BEHIND RESPONSE TESTING, BIOSECURITY, ALL THINGS TO EITHER BE BETTER AT PREVENTING AVIAN INFLUENZA FROM SPREADING, BIOSECURITY, MEANING WHAT’S ON THE FARM STAYS ON THE FARM, AND WHAT’S NOT STAYS AWAY. GRANT SAYS THAT THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL WILL BE SUMMERTIME, WHEN THE WARM WEATHER STARTS TO KILL THE VIRUS. IN THE MIGRATING, BIRDS ARE SETTLED. AVIAN FLU, UNFORTUNATELY, IS GOING TO BE A FACT OF LIFE FOR US, BUT WE WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW HAS THE BEST POTENTIAL TO MINIMIZE THAT SPREAD, MINIMIZE THE IMPACT TO THE CONSUMER, MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF THE FARMER. I REACHED OUT TO MANY SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY FARMERS TODAY TO SEE IF THEY COULD TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS TOPIC, BUT I’VE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A DIFFICULT TOPIC FOR POULTRY FARMERS TO TALK ABOUT. THE HPAI FUND IS THERE TO GET FARMERS BACK ON THEIR FEET IF THEY’RE AFFECTED BY THE AVIAN FLU.

Pennsylvania is facing its most severe avian flu outbreak since the 1980s, with the vast majority of the nation’s affected birds now in the commonwealth. In response, Gov. Josh Shapiro has announced additional resources to help poultry farmers and contain the virus.Scale and severityState officials say this is hardest Pennsylvania has been hit by the avian flu since the 1980s—an era agriculture leaders describe as one of the most devastating disasters in state history.USDA data shows 9.38 million birds affected nationwide as of Feb. 20, including 7.48 million in Pennsylvania, largely in Lancaster County.Lancaster County hot zoneThe Route 283 corridor from Manheim to Lancaster City has been identified as the current hot zone in Lancaster County. This area includes infected farms and nearby farms that must quarantine.State and federal responseMore than 40 U.S. Department of Agriculture employees are working in Pennsylvania to help limit spread.Shapiro is creating a dedicated avian flu response team to strengthen testing and biosecurity, following discussions with agriculture experts, including Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding.Funding to support farmersPennsylvania is the only state with a dedicated Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) recovery fund.The fund provides grants to impacted farms to help offset losses and address ripple effects on surrounding communities.Biosecurity and outlookBiosecurity efforts focus on keeping farm operations sealed from outside contamination to prevent the virus from spreading.Farm leaders say warmer weather could slow transmission, but caution that avian flu is likely to remain an ongoing threat that requires rapid testing and strict prevention measures.

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. —

Pennsylvania is facing its most severe avian flu outbreak since the 1980s, with the vast majority of the nation’s affected birds now in the commonwealth.

In response, Gov. Josh Shapiro has announced additional resources to help poultry farmers and contain the virus.

Scale and severityState officials say this is hardest Pennsylvania has been hit by the avian flu since the 1980s—an era agriculture leaders describe as one of the most devastating disasters in state history.USDA data shows 9.38 million birds affected nationwide as of Feb. 20, including 7.48 million in Pennsylvania, largely in Lancaster County.Lancaster County hot zone

The Route 283 corridor from Manheim to Lancaster City has been identified as the current hot zone in Lancaster County. This area includes infected farms and nearby farms that must quarantine.

State and federal response
More than 40 U.S. Department of Agriculture employees are working in Pennsylvania to help limit spread.Shapiro is creating a dedicated avian flu response team to strengthen testing and biosecurity, following discussions with agriculture experts, including Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding.Funding to support farmersPennsylvania is the only state with a dedicated Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) recovery fund.The fund provides grants to impacted farms to help offset losses and address ripple effects on surrounding communities.Biosecurity and outlookBiosecurity efforts focus on keeping farm operations sealed from outside contamination to prevent the virus from spreading.Farm leaders say warmer weather could slow transmission, but caution that avian flu is likely to remain an ongoing threat that requires rapid testing and strict prevention measures.