Pennsylvania confirms first case of avian flu in backyard flock

Aug. 15—Pennsylvania has a new confirmed case of avian flu, the state's first in a noncommercial, backyard flock, the state Department of Agriculture said in a press release.

A duck and chickens from a flock in Upper Mount Bethel Township in Northampton County were confirmed to be infected after a dead turkey vulture was found on the property. Wild birds are known to be a source of infection, the release last week noted.

The department has quarantined the infected farm and established a roughly 6-mile control area around it where products are subject to testing requirements and farmers need permits to transport products.

Work is underway to clean and disinfect the farm and safely dispose of potentially infected material.

Anyone within about 1 3/4 miles of the infected farm may not transport any poultry or egg products.

Avian influenza does not present an immediate public health concern, human health is not at risk, and poultry and eggs remain safe to eat, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Backyard bird owners should recognize that this disease is deadly to their birds," Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said in the release. "Protecting their birds helps protect neighboring poultry farms and the families and jobs that depend on those businesses."

Redding reminded backyard bird owners and poultry and egg producers to stay vigilant, especially as wild bird migration season picks up again in the coming weeks.

Poultry farmers can take the following measures to limit the spread of avian flu:

—Wear clean clothes, scrub footwear with disinfectant, and wash hands before and after contact with animals.

—Keep equipment and vehicles clean, including all those entering your property.

—Control birds and rodents who can carry and spread disease.

—Keep your birds inside whenever possible and minimize the chance of contact with wild birds.

—Clean under barn soffits and eliminate possible entry points for wild birds.

—Eliminate standing water that may attract wild birds.

For detailed information on protecting your flock, visit the USDA's Defend the Flock page.

Symptoms of avian flu in birds include sudden death; lack of energy, appetite and coordination; purple discoloration or swelling of body parts; diarrhea; nasal discharge; coughing; sneezing; and reduced egg production or abnormal eggs.

Suspected cases and any unusual deaths can be reported to the department at 717-772-2852. A veterinarian is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Sick or dead wild birds should be reported to the Pennsylvania Game Commission at 610-926-3136 or pgc-wildlifehealth@pa.gov.

Last week, Redding announced the details of $25 million in direct relief to poultry producers to support recovery from the avian influenza outbreak.

The state's 2022-23 budget invests an additional $6 million to the PA Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System to support ongoing testing needs.

For a complete listing of confirmed infections in the U.S. visit the USDA's website, aphis.usda.gov.

To learn more about avian influenza, including whether your farm is within the control area of an infected farm, visit the department's website, agriculture.pa.gov.