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Important Avian Influenza
Update
Drop-off sites for avian
influenza in Lancaster, York counties
Oct. 3, 2022
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Last
week, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) announced positive avian
influenza (AI) test results in a backyard flock in Lancaster County, East
Lampeter Township, and in a commercial turkey flock in York County, Windsor
Township. PDA has placed a 10 km surveillance zone around the Lancaster County
site and a control area and surveillance zone around the York County site.
Sample drop-off sites and hours of operation for each location have been
established, beginning today (Oct. 3).
The
hours for the sample drop-off site around the Lancaster County
non-poultry premises are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. The address
is:
East
Lampeter Township Police Department
2250
Old Philadelphia Pike
Lancaster,
PA 17602
The
York drop-off site for samples taken for surveillance around the quarantined
premises in York is:
John
O Myers Farm
2228
Dunkard Valley Road
Dallastown,
Pa 17313
The
hours of operation are the same as for the Lancaster County site. There are no
poultry on site. Thanks to Mr. Myers for offering this location.
PDA
is asking producers to use the drop-off sites that have been established,
rather than bringing the samples directly to the labs for testing. Using the
drop-off sites assists with biosecurity, allows the samples to be equitably
distributed among the PADLS labs for testing (as all of the labs are
experiencing staffing issues), and preserves the capacity within labs to
respond to calls for sick birds. PDA also encourages those dropping off samples
to do so in a timely fashion, so as not to delay testing reports, given the
volume of both HPAI and non-HPAI samples the labs receive each day. All samples
that arrive before 8:30 a.m. will be tested the same day.
PDA
reports that it is seeing a resurgence of avian influenza in commercial flocks
nationwide and urges the institution of enhanced biosecurity measures on all
Pennsylvania farms. Those producers with a need to have their biosecurity
plans evaluated should send them to Dr. Nanette Hanshaw, chief of the
Animal Health Division at PDA, at nhanshaw@pa.gov.
Those
individuals with backyard flocks are urged to “bring their birds in” and avoid putting food out that might attract wild birds, which are helping to spread avian illnesses as they migrate. It is important to educate neighbors with backyard flocks on good biosecurity practices so that they can do their part in controlling the spread of HPAI in Pennsylvania.
