Pennsylvania has reported its first bird flu case of 2025, detected in a 50,000-bird chicken flock at a farm in Lehigh County. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) strain H5, 2.3.4.4 after testing at the Pennsylvania Diagnostic Laboratory System (PADLS) lab. The samples have been sent to a USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory for further confirmation.
State officials have quarantined the affected farm and restricted the movement of poultry products within a 10-kilometer radius to prevent the spread of the virus. They assure the public that there is no health risk, and poultry products and eggs remain safe to consume if cooked properly.
The last bird flu case in Pennsylvania's commercial poultry was in February 2024, with the most recent detection in domestic birds occurring in a backyard flock in October 2024 in Venango County.
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding emphasized the importance of biosecurity measures to protect the state's poultry and dairy industries. "With this confirmed positive infection in Pennsylvania and confirmed infections in poultry in surrounding states, the threat is clear and heightened," Redding stated.
While bird flu is highly infectious and generally fatal to birds, it poses a very low risk to humans, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The state continues to work with federal agencies to monitor the virus and protect public health.