Top ag officials in Pennsylvania are calling the current avian flu outbreak unprecedented and “a crisis.”
Since early this month, more than 7 million birds from 11 commercial flocks and nine backyard flocks have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, or H5N1. It’s put a strain on local resources and raised concerns of a potential spillover to dairy farms.
"It's been as stressful as anything that I've had to deal with. This ranks with the first few weeks of COVID with just a lot of uncertainty and supply chain issues," said Chris Herr, executive director of PennAg Industries.
Here’s what’s known
The current outbreak is devastating egg-layer farms.
Positive confirmations include a 722,100-head layer farm on Feb. 3; a 2.64 million-head layer farm on Feb. 17; and a 1.45 million-head layer farm on Feb. 18. Several turkey and broiler farms have also tested positive.
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed three more positive flocks Friday.
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture spokeswoman, wild birds, including snow geese that are overwintering in the area, are believed to be the source of infection. However, epidemiological tracebacks are working to confirm that.
Dan Hougentogler, a consultant on animal disease response, has been on the ground responding to the outbreak. He said a top epidemiologist from USDA is in the county working with health officials to see if the outbreak is being caused by a new variant or if the disease has become more virulent.
Shannon Powers, ag spokeswoman, said most variants of the H5N1 virus identified in the state have been the D1.1, or a derivative of that. That’s concerning because USDA confirmed in December that a Wisconsin dairy bird flu outbreak was caused by the D1.1 variant.
Dairy farms urged to prepare
Lancaster County, Pa., has one of the highest concentrations of egg-laying farms in the country. But it’s also a big dairy county, with many dairy farms located near or even on the same property as some egg-layer facilities.
No dairy farms have tested positive for HPAI thus far. However, farms within 1.86 miles of an infected poultry farm are now required to do additional virus testing.
Powers said that testing of milk tankers and farms continues, with enhanced disease-prevention measures in place and strongly recommended of all farms.
Jayne Sebright, executive director of the Center for Dairy Excellence, said the center has a downloadable biosecurity template available on its website.
“I think the most important thing for dairy farmers is just to do biosecurity and protect their farms,” she said. “Just have your plans in place.”
Sebright said a survey of 700 dairy farmers last year found that 50% of farms had either a biosecurity in place or were in the process of getting one done.
What help is available?
Pennsylvania has a dedicated HPAI Recovery Fund to help poultry producers stabilize and recover from devastating losses.
These grants can help pay for biosecurity upgrades. The next round of applications is due April 30.
USDA provides HPAI financial assistance to poultry and dairy producers, including indemnity for lost birds, compensation for lost milk production and up to $10,000 for veterinary costs for infected cattle. Programs also support biosecurity upgrades (up to $25,000 per premises) and PPE costs, aimed at offsetting losses and enhancing biosecurity.
Here are examples of available help:
Poultry Indemnity. USDA provides payments for the fair market value of birds destroyed due to HPAI, including disposal and cleaning costs.
Dairy Herd Assistance (ELAP). The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program helps with milk loss and veterinary expenses for confirmed H5N1 cases.
Dairy Biosecurity Support. Up to $1,500 for developing biosecurity plans is available, and $100 for in-line milk samplers and funds for PPE/laundry services.
Tips for dairy biosecurity
Cornell University has the following tips for enhancing dairy biosecurity:
- Pause or cancel nonessential farm visits.
- Assign a biosecurity manager to monitor the situation and develop a farm-specific biosecurity plan.
- Notify a vet if cows present symptoms such as discolored milk, decreased rumination and fever.
- Report findings of odd behaviors, and increased numbers of dead wild birds, cats, skunks or raccoons.
- Avoid importing cattle from affected farms.
- Discourage wild birds from entering farms, waterers and feed sources.
- Clean and disinfect waterers daily.
Tips for poultry biosecurity
Here are some tips for poultry from the Delaware Department of Agriculture:
- Limit, monitor and record any movement of people, vehicles or animals on or off your farm.
- Permit only essential workers and vehicles to enter the farm to limit the chances of bringing the virus from an outside source.
- Avoid visiting other poultry farms and any unnecessary travel off the farm.
- Disinfect equipment, vehicles, footwear and other items that come into contact with flocks.
- Keep your flock away from wild or migratory birds, especially waterfowl.
- Isolate any ill animals and contact your veterinarian.