Requirements for Dairy and Poultry Operations in Infected Zones

• Don’t forget to join us this Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m., for the next PA Agriculture HPAI Monthly Call. Click here to learn more.
• There have been additional preliminary findings in poultry flocks across various PA counties. The following PA counties are now showing preliminary findings of H5, 2.3.4.4 in poultry flocks:
  • Lehigh
  • Dauphin
  • Lancaster
  • Lebanon (Bethel Township)
  • Cumberland (South Middleton Township)
• As a reminder, 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, dairy farms in any of the 3 Km infected Zones around any infected poultry or dairy premise are required to conduct surveillance. This is part of the Department’s quarantine order (click here to read) in an effort to exercise precaution for both dairy farms and poultry facilities.
• When a positive case is identified, the PA State Vet’s Office will reach out directly to any dairy farms within the 3 KM Infected Zones about testing.
• You can find out if your dairy farm is located in or near these Infected Zones now that more counties are appearing on the map. 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 (see below) appear. Please share this with dairy producers who might benefit from the tool.
• While HPAI is affecting PA poultry operations directly right now, on Jan. 31, 2025, the USDA Animal Plant and Health Inspection Services National Veterinary Laboratories confirmed the first detection of the HPAI variant genotype D1.1 in dairy cattle. This is the first detection of this virus genotype in dairy cattle, which has previously only been found in wild birds, mammals, and domestic poultry. This shows how essential it is for everyone in animal agriculture to take biosecurity seriously. Click here to learn more about this detection in dairy cattle.
• Get on top of this and create your biosecurity plan. Attend one of Penn State Extension’s free workshops happening 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, or contact Samantha Gehrett at Penn State directly at smr5319@psu.edu.

My dairy farm is showing up in an Infected Zone. Now what? 

• When a positive case is identified, the PA State Vet’s Office will reach out directly to any dairy farms within the 3 KM Infected Zones about testing.
• 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.

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