The state Department of Agriculture shared new recommendations for poultry producers to limit the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The department’s recommendations focus on preventing contact of poultry with wild birds and dairy cows. It also recommends maintaining poultry indoors, if possible.

Poultry producers can find additional recommendations and data on the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System’s website.

Avian influenza has been circulating in the wild bird population in the United States and was identified in commercial poultry in early 2022. No cases have been reported in Pennsylvania dairies to date.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 70 cases of avian influenza in humans, and reports that the majority of those cases are linked to infected poultry or dairy cattle. No human cases have been reported in Pennsylvania.

Report any unexplained mortality and morbidity in a flock to the Department at 717- 772-2852, option 1.