Recording Now Available: PA Agriculture HPAI Monthly Call

If you missed the November 13 call, the recording is now available:

• Click here to access the recording.

Here are important highlights and takeaways from the call:

• In the past 30 days, there have been 188 new, confirmed HPAI cases in ID, UT, and CA dairy farms. This means 38% of all cattle cases occurred in the last month. Since February 2024, the number of affected dairy herds has reached 492 with 278 farms in CA alone. With the number of cases awaiting confirmation, that could take the number of CA cases up over 300. For October, there could be an industry-estimated 4% drop in the U.S. milk production. With CA producing 18% of the nation’s milk supply, this could mean a significant decline in this country’s milk production.
• In the same 30-day timeframe, there have been 21 confirmed positive cases in WA, MT, UT, OR, and CA poultry flocks, a total of 4.4 million affected birds. Poultry farms are now experiencing an ongoing double-threat risk from wild bird and dairy cattle introduction. A week ago, Venango County, PA had a positive case in a backyard flock, which was resolved. It is important to note that the strain detected in the Venango County flock was not the same strain detected in dairy cattle in other parts of the country. Rather, it is the strain of the HPAI virus that has been detected in the Eastern Fly-way Zones. PDA is working closely with the USDA to navigate the poultry trade implications, resulting from detecting a positive case in PA, and settling them as quickly as possible.
• Since March 2024, there has been roughly 36 confirmed cases of HPAI in humans to date. All the affected individuals reported mild cases of conjunctivitis and severe red eye. Additionally, a British Columbia teen was hospitalized and is in critical condition due to contracting HPAI. Regarding the BC teen, animal exposure hasn’t been verified. You can click here to read further about how HPAI affects humans. Getting the seasonal flu vaccine, especially those in direct contact with animals, is important to lowering the chances of co-infection and HPAI evolving into a new type of virus. Click here to read more about the importance of staying up-to-date on your seasonal flu vaccine.
• The PDA stresses all farms obtain and maintain a biosecurity plan. The Penn State Extension team can offer assistance and resources for farmers to develop their own biosecurity plan. Pennsylvania dairy farmers can request, at no cost, biosecurity kits and “No Trespassing” signs through the Center for Dairy Excellence to create their own biosecurity protocols and serve as a basis for a biosecurity plan. Click here to request CDE biosecurity kits or signs.
• For farmers, treating a biosecurity plan like a living document is key to preventing or containing a potential positive case of HPAI. This means reviewing and revising it continuously, as well as going over it with family members and employees regularly. Developing protocols for visitors and service providers improves a farm’s overall efficacy of their biosecurity plan. Also, designating someone who understand the farm as the biosecurity coordinator will ensure implementation. For more tips on creating an effective biosecurity plan for your farm, click here to view Dr. Boney’s slides.
• The PDA emphasizes the importance of obtaining a USDA premise I.D. number, not to be confused with the FDA premise I.D, to help slow and prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). USDA programs do not recognize FDA issued identifiers. If you receive an official I.D. for your cattle, you most likely already have a USDA issued federal premise I.D. To check the status or to register for a USDA premise I.D., you can click here.
• The PDA encourages all Pennsylvania dairy farms to enroll in the Voluntary Lactating Dairy Cow Health Monitoring Program. Enrolled farms will benefit by no longer being required to individually test cattle prior to interstate movement. Testing will be performed at no cost to producers, and the Department or USDA will provide necessary sampling supplies after enrollment. Email RA-ahds@pa.gov or click here to learn more about the program.
• A Voluntary Multistate HPAI Silo Surveillance Program will be open to Mid-Atlantic dairy processors to collect key data on the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in milk silos in the region. The participating processing plants collect samples regularly for testing and are shipped overnight for PCR and ELISA testing, with results shared with participating states. Currently, dairy processors in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and Delaware are participating. For more information, please contact the Pennsylvania Department of Ag (PDA) at RA-ahds@pa.gov, or click here.
• The PA Department of Health (PA DOH) still has various Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) available, including gowns, face shields, and gloves. Click here to request PPE for yourself or farm workers.

Note: The USDA has confirmed that there is no threat to human health and milk. Dairy products continue to remain safe to consume.