State Department of Agriculture orders temporary ban on poultry and egg displays at local fairs

A recent nationwide outbreak of avian influenza led the state Department of Agriculture to temporarily ban the attendance and display of poultry and eggs at county and local fairs in Pennsylvania.

The ban takes effect April 16 and will last 60 days or until the ministry lifts the order. The ban applies to the 108 county and local fairs that receive state funding under the Pennsylvania Agriculture Fair Act.

As of April 12, cases of infected birds in commercial and backyard poultry flocks have been confirmed in 26 states, including several around Pennsylvania. Genetic analysis of samples taken from other US states has shown that the virus is spread by infected wild birds.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza is highly contagious and often fatal to birds.

“Pennsylvania agricultural fairs are important educational events for our young people,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said Thursday. “But the risk to our poultry farmers and our economy outweighs the benefit of exhibiting poultry at fairs when bird flu is an imminent threat.”

Pennsylvania has not had a confirmed case of bird flu, also known as bird flu, in commercial or backyard poultry since an outbreak in 1983-84.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said recent bird flu detections do not present an immediate public health concern and that no human cases of bird flu virus have been detected in the United States. .

Poultry and eggs are safe to eat if stored and cooked at appropriate temperatures.