By Blake Jackson
Bird flu continues to challenge the U.S. food system, with outbreaks occurring in every state. However, Pennsylvania and Georgia recently reached “HPAI-Free” status for their dairy and poultry sectors, respectively.
This achievement follows strict biosecurity actions, rapid virus containment, and ongoing testing. In Georgia, officials quickly responded to a poultry outbreak in early 2025 by suspending bird-related activities and disinfecting farms.
Tom Tabler, poultry expert at the University of Tennessee, explained, “The steps for containment include quarantine, depopulation, disposal, cleaning, disinfecting, testing and time.”
Pennsylvania, one of the top dairy producers, focused on proactive testing. Its Animal Diagnostic Lab tested over 22,000 milk samples by early 2025. The USDA’s National Milk Testing Strategy requires four months of clean results to list a state as “unaffected.”
Even with good planning, challenges remain. Large confined farms house tens of thousands of birds, creating a high-risk setting for bird flu spread. Wild birds carrying the virus can reach even the most secure farms.
“We’re doing everything that we can to minimize the risk to the animals that are under our control,” said Corinne Bromfield, a biosecurity veterinarian, “but we also have this added layer of animals that are not under our control.”
Depopulation remains a common method to stop outbreaks, often using low-cost but harsh techniques. These methods draw criticism for being inhumane and not encouraging long-term biosecurity improvements.
Pennsylvania officials acknowledge the uncertainty.
“We are not out of the woods yet, and the threat demands that we keep our guard up,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding.
Though bird flu-free declarations show progress, the unpredictable nature of the virus means states must stay prepared for future outbreaks. Biosecurity, testing, and farm cooperation remain key to protecting livestock and the national food supply.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-branex
Categories: Pennsylvania, Business, Government & Policy, Livestock, Dairy Cattle, Rural Lifestyle, Farm Safety