Testing for avian flu is happening at a farm in Lancaster County.U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors were at the farm in Mount Joy all day Tuesday.The farm is located in a control area where four other Lancaster County poultry farms have tested positive for the contagious strain of the virus.We don’t know if any chickens have tested positive at the Mount Joy farm. A USDA spokesman is not commenting on what was found.More testing is expected at other poultry farms in the control area.Virus found at four farmsAvian flu has been confirmed at a fourth location in Lancaster County.The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports the positive case was found Friday in a commercial broiler production facility. Broiler refers to birds raised for meat production.More than 50,000 chickens at the facility were euthanized.Nearly 3.5 million birds were destroyed at the other three farms where avian flu was found. The first case was discovered at Kreider Farms in East Donegal Township.A control zone has been set up in a six-mile radius around that farm.More than 100 poultry farms in the control zone are required to increase cleaning and disinfecting.All of the locations where avian flu has been found have been in the control zone.”If this was outside that zone, I would be very concerned. But it’s inside, so that tells me that the testing we’re doing, the control mechanisms we’ve had, the biosecurity, the permitting, all of that is working,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said.While mitigation efforts may help contain the spread, Redding said warmer weather will also be a help.”The virus doesn’t like hot weather, so the sooner we get there and stay there is also going to help us,” he said.Redding said that even if the virus is contained, it’s still impacting the poultry industry – a $7.1 billion business in Pennsylvania.Report avian flu casesIf you suspect live poultry is infected, you are asked to report it to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Service at 717-772-2852. That number is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.Symptoms of avian flu in poultry include a lack of energy and appetite.
Testing for avian flu is happening at a farm in Lancaster County.
U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors were at the farm in Mount Joy all day Tuesday.
The farm is located in a control area where four other Lancaster County poultry farms have tested positive for the contagious strain of the virus.
We don’t know if any chickens have tested positive at the Mount Joy farm. A USDA spokesman is not commenting on what was found.
More testing is expected at other poultry farms in the control area.
Virus found at four farms
Avian flu has been confirmed at a fourth location in Lancaster County.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports the positive case was found Friday in a commercial broiler production facility. Broiler refers to birds raised for meat production.
More than 50,000 chickens at the facility were euthanized.
Nearly 3.5 million birds were destroyed at the other three farms where avian flu was found.
The first case was discovered at Kreider Farms in East Donegal Township.
A control zone has been set up in a six-mile radius around that farm.
More than 100 poultry farms in the control zone are required to increase cleaning and disinfecting.
All of the locations where avian flu has been found have been in the control zone.
“If this was outside that zone, I would be very concerned. But it’s inside, so that tells me that the testing we’re doing, the control mechanisms we’ve had, the biosecurity, the permitting, all of that is working,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said.
While mitigation efforts may help contain the spread, Redding said warmer weather will also be a help.
“The virus doesn’t like hot weather, so the sooner we get there and stay there is also going to help us,” he said.
Redding said that even if the virus is contained, it’s still impacting the poultry industry – a $7.1 billion business in Pennsylvania.
Report avian flu cases
If you suspect live poultry is infected, you are asked to report it to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Service at 717-772-2852.
That number is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Symptoms of avian flu in poultry include a lack of energy and appetite.
