PA Considers Investing Millions To Combat Bird Flu

PENNSYLVANIA — After new cases of the highly contagious avian flu confirmed at a Lancaster County farm, a state legislator from that area plans to introduce a bill to provide $2 million in money to combat the disease.

Republican Rep. Mindy Fee said the additional funding for the detection, response and prevention of avian flu is critical.

"Agriculture plays a key role in Pennsylvania’s economy and there is a critical need to be adequately prepared to address potential outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, as well as other threats," Fee said in a statement.

"Pennsylvania must be prepared to act and adapt quickly in order to protect our poultry flocks, farmers and families, and this additional funding will go a long way to limiting the impact of highly pathogenic avian flu on our farms and food supply."

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The state Department of Agriculture said state and federal officials are working on a coordinated response to the cases diagnosed in commercial chickens at an East Donegal Township poultry farm. The entire farm has been quarantined as well as all other nearby commercial poultry farms.

Fee noted that in 2016, the legislature included additional support in the state budget to monitor and prevent the spread of avian flu. The money was used for research and development efforts, as well as county cooperative extension services that many farmers utilize to learn how to prevent an outbreak and the appropriate response when an outbreak is detected.

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