Avian influenza is spreading rapidly through Pennsylvania, hitting commercial poultry farms in multiple counties and triggering an aggressive multi-agency response. Governor Josh Shapiro signed a new law on Thursday, Feb. 6, aimed at expanding Pennsylvania’s workforce to combat the crisis.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) infections in poultry operations across Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and Lehigh counties. The outbreak follows the state’s first confirmed case of 2025 on Jan. 27, when a 50,000-bird flock in Lehigh County tested positive.
To help fight the spread, Governor Josh Shapiro signed HB 324 into law, expanding Pennsylvania’s Certified Poultry Technician program. The bill, led by Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, allows legal residents (non-citizens) to become certified after completing state training, helping address a critical shortage of trained workers who can monitor and test poultry flocks…