LANCASTER, PA — Pennsylvania is mobilizing additional personnel, expanding laboratory testing, and directing millions in emergency funding as a surge in Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza threatens the state’s $7.1 billion poultry industry, state officials announced Tuesday.
What This Means for You
- More than 7.6 million birds have been lost statewide since the start of 2026.
- Nearly $60 million remains available in Pennsylvania’s HPAI Recovery Fund for affected farms.
- State and federal teams are expanding testing, biosecurity enforcement, and rapid response staffing.
Governor Josh Shapiro and Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding outlined the expanded response during a roundtable in Lancaster County, the center of Pennsylvania’s poultry production.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, commonly known as HPAI or avian flu, is a highly contagious virus that spreads rapidly among birds and is often fatal to domestic poultry. State officials said the current surge has resulted in the loss of more than 7.6 million birds this year alone.
Funding And Recovery Efforts
Pennsylvania remains the only state with a dedicated HPAI Recovery Fund. Since 2022, $75 million has been committed to the fund, with $59.4 million currently in reserve. To date, 302 poultry businesses have received $15.6 million in grants to offset losses and strengthen biosecurity measures.
“Pennsylvania’s farmers are the backbone of our communities and I know many are worried about the recent rise in HPAI cases,” Shapiro said. “My Administration is working around the clock to expand our rapid response efforts and mitigate this surge.”
Producers whose flocks become infected or whose operations are paused due to nearby outbreaks are encouraged to apply for HPAI Recovery Grants.
Rapid Response And Testing Expansion
When an HPAI case is detected, state animal health teams deploy immediately with federal partners to quarantine affected sites, conduct testing, oversee elimination of infected birds, and supervise cleaning and disinfection protocols.
From July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, Pennsylvania’s Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System processed more than 672,000 HPAI tests, including over 200,000 poultry samples. Since January 2026, the system has performed approximately 8,000 tests in six weeks, covering 80,000 birds
In the past week, three Pennsylvania National Guard Civilian Support Team members joined 55 state veterinarians and staff, along with 42 USDA employees and industry representatives, bringing the total personnel assigned to 105.
Secretary Redding said the Rapid Response Center in Lancaster has been “indispensable to our ability to respond swiftly and effectively to avian influenza.”
Budget And Legislative Actions
Shapiro secured $6 million in the 2024–25 budget to establish a fourth diagnostic laboratory at Penn State Beaver to increase testing capacity, particularly in western Pennsylvania.
In his proposed 2026–27 budget, the governor is seeking $11 million for Agricultural Preparedness and Response, including $2 million to operate the new lab and fully fund the Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission and laboratory system.
Legislation signed last year expanded the types of samples Certified Poultry Technicians can collect for HPAI testing, increasing the number of certified technicians to nearly 900 statewide.
Lawmakers from both parties participated in the roundtable and described the response as bipartisan. “HPAI isn’t a red or a blue issue, it impacts everyone in the state,” said Rep. Dan Moul.
Public Health And Consumer Impact
State officials emphasized that HPAI presents a very low risk to the general public and that poultry products remain safe to consume when properly handled and cooked.
However, because the virus spreads easily among birds and is typically fatal to domestic flocks, officials urged producers to reinforce biosecurity plans, limit farm access, disinfect equipment, and report sick birds immediately.
Producers can report sick birds to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at 717-772-2852, and residents encountering sick or dead wild birds should contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission at 1-833-PGC-WILD.
More information on prevention and recovery resources is available at agriculture.pa.gov.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.