Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has declared a crisis as a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, has decimated 7.4 million chickens across the state in the past month, according to reports from Reuters.
The outbreak is impacting poultry farms throughout Pennsylvania, prompting concerns about the stability of the state’s egg supply and the economic impact on farmers. The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) is requesting assistance from the public in identifying additional cases of the virus, as reported by the Erie Times-News.
Neighboring New Jersey has also been affected, reporting over 1,100 dead birds, while Delaware is working to mitigate the spread of the virus, according to WHYY. The spread of the virus is suspected to be linked to wild geese, NBC10 Philadelphia reported, with officials in Pennsylvania and Delaware implementing measures to protect poultry flocks.
The scale of the outbreak in Pennsylvania is significant, with 7.4 million birds already lost, according to Reuters. The PGC is urging citizens to report any sightings of sick or dead birds to help track the virus’s progression and implement targeted control measures. The commission’s request for public assistance highlights the challenges in containing the outbreak, particularly given the role of migratory birds in spreading the disease.
The situation is evolving, and state agricultural officials are working with federal partners to implement biosecurity measures and prevent further spread of the virus. No further details regarding specific containment strategies or financial aid for affected farmers have been released at this time.
