Required Dairy Surveillance for HPAI in 3 KM Infected Zone in Dauphin County, What This Means for Dairies

On February 2, the PA Department of Agriculture reported another preliminary H5, 2.3.4.4 result in a commercial layer poultry flock in Dauphin County, Lower Swatara Township, and a small mixed non-poultry backyard flock in Adams County. Samples will be sent to NVSL for confirmation. The layer flock will require placement of a Control Area and Surveillance Zone, just like the January 27 finding in Lehigh County. Samples from several other flocks are pending, and any preliminary positive results will be reported.

While this strain is being transmitted through wild geese in the Eastern Fly-Way Zones and is not the strain that has infected dairy cattle in other states, this has important impacts on dairy producers. As part of the the Department’s quarantine order (click here to read) and in an effort to exercise precaution for both dairy farms and poultry facilities, dairy farms in the 3 Km infected Zone around any infected poultry or dairy premise are required to conduct surveillance. 

• Each herd must have a USDA issued federal premises identification number registered with the Department. Any new farms can complete the attached premises registration form to obtain a premises ID number. Dairy premises can be reported to RA-PREMISE-ID@pa.gov.  A Premise ID will ensure they appear on the Department’s map so they can be alerted to new infected premises and any surveillance requirements
• Per the Department’s response plan, dairies in the Infected Zone shall submit weekly bulk tank or in-line milk samples representing the entire milking herd until the control area is closed. Email the Department at RA-ahds@pa.gov with questions.
• Learn more about the weekly surveillance.

What should you do now?

• Attend one of Penn State Extension’s two free workshops happening in Mount Joy and Leesport over the next week to start creating your dairy farm’s biosecurity plan. Should your dairy farm be quarantined and fall into the Infected Zone from an outbreak of HPAI, having a biosecurity plan will be essential. Click here to sign up for a workshop.
• Find out if your dairy farm is located in or near the Infected Zone. Click here to view an interactive map, where you can enter your farm’s address to determine your proximity to the Infected and Buffer Zones. If you fall into the Infected Zone, you will see the following message appear. Please share this with dairy producers who might benefit from the tool.

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