With initial tests indicating positive cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in commercial poultry in five Pennsylvania counties, the state Department of Agriculture has escalated its response to protect the agriculture industry from the spread of the virus. 

The first confirmed case of 2025 in Pennsylvania was found January 27 in a commercial poultry farm in Lehigh County, with the same strain that caused the loss of 22.75 million birds nationwide in the last 30 days. Several commercial poultry farms in Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and Lehigh are presumed positive based on initial virus samples and rapid bird deaths.  

The Department, along with USDA, is leading a state and federal interagency task force carrying out a comprehensive response on these farms to help keep the virus from spreading further by quarantining each farm, testing commercial facilities within a 10-kilometer radius, and testing and transporting restrictions on dairy farms within a 3-kilometer radius. 

Anyone who encounters a sick or dead wild bird is asked not to touch the bird and immediately report it to the PA Game Commission at 1-833-742-9453. Anyone who has had contact with sick or dead birds and is not feeling well should contact their primary care physician. Farmers that suspect their flocks may be infected should contact the PA Department of Agriculture immediately at 717-772-2852 and choose option one any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  

Those raising poultry farmers and those raising backyard flocks should refer to the PADLS website to determine if they are located in a control or surveillance zone, which can be found by clicking here. Non-farming public should avoid farms if their presence is not essential and stay out of areas with bio-secure area notices. Click here for the full press release.