Butler County has its first confirmed case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, which was detected in a backyard flock of 610 birds, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
It is the first case in a backyard flock in Butler since the H5N1 strain of the virus began in early 2022, said Shannon Powers, press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
HPAI is extremely contagious and almost always fatal. There is, however, no risk to the general public. Poultry products and eggs are safe to eat if cooked properly, according to the department.
The USDA confirmed the Butler County bird flu infection on Feb. 20.
In the past 30 days, the USDA has reported bird flu infections in seven commercial flocks and eight backyard flocks in Pennsylvania, for a total of 2.3 million infected birds in the state. Nationally, almost 19 million birds have been infected in the past 30 days.
In addition to Butler, the bird flu has been detected this year in commercial or backyard bird flocks in counties including Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne and Monroe, according to the USDA.
The Butler farm, which is not named by the government agencies, is classified as a non-poultry farm, which generally refers to sites where chickens and other domestic birds — and their products including eggs and feathers — are raised as pets, show birds, or for other non-commercial purposes, Ms. Powers said.
“They are not sold or shipped elsewhere to be processed or sold,” she said.
Because the Butler site is classified as non-poultry, there isn’t a control area requiring additional testing requirements and restrictions on moving poultry products, Ms. Powers said.
The state is working with the USDA and others to prevent and contain the spread of the virus by the quarantine of virus-positive farms, required testing, restrictions on moving poultry products at impacted farms and other measures.
When a farm reports an unusual number of sick, dying or dead birds, initial tests for the flu are conducted. If the birds test positive, they are euthanized in the safest possible way, Ms. Powers said.
Bird flu detections are higher in the fall and spring during wild bird migration, according to the USDA.
The federal agency works with state agencies to monitor the spread of the virus in commercial, backyard and wild birds.
The USDA encourages all bird owners to reduce opportunities for wildlife to spread the virus to their flocks and prevent the spread of the virus from one location to another.
Residents who suspect their poultry is infected with avian influenza should call the Pennsylvania Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services at 717-772-2852, option 1.
Anyone who sees a sick or dead wild bird should report it to the PA Game Commission at 833-742-9453.
Residents who feel ill after contact with sick or dead birds should consult their primary care physician or the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 877-724-3258.
First Published: February 25, 2025, 8:57 p.m.
Updated: February 26, 2025, 8:42 p.m.
