From Dr. Gregory Martin of Poultry Extension Educator/Penn State Extension
FAQ's
Meat milk and eggs are safe to eat. Cooking kills any pathogens that may be on these food products. Eggs that you see in grocery stores are inspected by state and federal agencies. All processed meats in stores are inspected by meat inspectors in the processing plants.
Because of the heavy losses to avian flu nationwide there is a shortage of eggs on the market, hence an uptick in pricing. Add to this the inflation we have seen in fuel, and that adds to the cost of food.
Health agencies have recommended that folks under consultation with their doctors get the flu shot annually.
If you should see dead birds in the wild, Call the PA game commission to report this.
1-833-PGC-WILD (742-9453)
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pgc/wildlife/wildlife-health/wildlife-diseases/avian-influenza.html
If you have domestic poultry that become ill quickly with respiratory signs, call the PA depart of Ag diagnostic lab system (PADLS) for instructions.
PADLS hotline 717-772-2852 (24/7). Leave message; vet on call will call back.
If folks are in a park, do not approach or feed the wild birds. Bread is not normally found in the wild, so we should not be feeding it to ducks!! Be sure to sanitize shoes and car after visiting parks or wildlife refuges that have wild birds.
What is AVIAN FLU?
Avian flu, also known as avian influenza, is a highly contagious viral infection that primarily affects birds. Recently, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture confirmed the first positive case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in 2025 in a commercial poultry farm in Lehigh County. The H5, 2.3.4.4 HPAI strain was detected in a 50,000-bird layer chicken flock, prompting the state to quarantine the farm and restrict the movement of poultry products within a 10-kilometer radius of the infected flock.
While there is no immediate health risk to the general public, HPAI is highly infectious and often fatal to domestic birds. The virus has not been detected in humans in Pennsylvania, but it has infected dairy cattle in other states. However, pasteurized milk remains safe to drink.
In Pennsylvania:
The Shapiro Administration has implemented aggressive measures to protect Pennsylvania's poultry and dairy industries. These include quarantines, biosecurity measures, and investments in agriculture infrastructure. The state also established a $31 million fund to support poultry farmers impacted by the avian influenza crisis.
If you encounter a sick or dead wild bird in Pennsylvania, you should report it to the PA Game Commission at 1-833-PGC-WILD (1-833-742-9453). If you have had contact with sick or dead birds and feel unwell, contact your primary care physician or the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 877-724-3258.
For poultry farmers, concerns about avian influenza can be reported to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services at 717-772-2852, option 1. More information about control zones and surveillance can be found on the PADLS website.