Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding emphasized last month that the state Department of Agriculture has the financial resources available to continue its work and be ready, should an outbreak of the avian influenza (HPAI) occur in the commonwealth. The virus has decimated flocks in the western two-thirds of the country.
"We want to be clear that avian influenza has not been found in our state, but we need to plan and act as if it could at any moment, which is a distinct possibility," Redding said. "When this virus hit in 1983 and 1984, 17 million birds were lost. That equated to a $65 million negative impact to our state's economy. We are doing everything possible to avoid that kind of devastation — or worse — with this outbreak."
Redding said Governor Wolf has approved $3.5 million for the department, which would be on the front line of any response, to continue its planning work and mount a response to any initial outbreak, but the size and scope of that response is uncertain.
"What we have learned from other states, such as Iowa and Minnesota, is that acting quickly is imperative to containing the virus and minimizing its spread," Redding added.
To learn more about avian influenza preparedness efforts to date, visit the department's website at www.agriculture.state.pa.us and click on the "Avian Influenza" banner at the top of the page.
"We want to be clear that avian influenza has not been found in our state, but we need to plan and act as if it could at any moment, which is a distinct possibility," Redding said. "When this virus hit in 1983 and 1984, 17 million birds were lost. That equated to a $65 million negative impact to our state's economy. We are doing everything possible to avoid that kind of devastation — or worse — with this outbreak."
Redding said Governor Wolf has approved $3.5 million for the department, which would be on the front line of any response, to continue its planning work and mount a response to any initial outbreak, but the size and scope of that response is uncertain.
"What we have learned from other states, such as Iowa and Minnesota, is that acting quickly is imperative to containing the virus and minimizing its spread," Redding added.
To learn more about avian influenza preparedness efforts to date, visit the department's website at www.agriculture.state.pa.us and click on the "Avian Influenza" banner at the top of the page.
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