Shapiro Administration Expands Avian Flu Recovery Efforts

By Blake Jackson

Agriculture Deputy Secretary for Animal Health and Food Safety Lisa Graybeal recently led a tour of the Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory, one of the state’s key facilities combating Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

Joined by poultry experts and affected farmers, Graybeal emphasized that strong biosecurity remains the best defense against the virus. She also reminded producers that HPAI Recovery Grants are available to help restore operations after outbreaks.

The virus, which is almost always fatal to birds, poses a serious threat to Pennsylvania’s poultry industry - one of the top three sectors in the state’s $132.5 billion agriculture economy.

Lancaster County alone is home to over 1,319 poultry farms, where six confirmed infection sites have affected 57,900 birds. Since February 2022, Pennsylvania has lost more than 7.1 million birds across 41 commercial and 59 backyard flocks in 23 counties.

“Testing to monitor and detect Hi-Path Avian Influenza has been an indispensable tool to minimize the damage during what has been the biggest animal health crisis in American history,” said Deputy Secretary Graybeal.

“Pennsylvania’s highly skilled, dedicated team of experts working in the veterinary labs, barns, and fields across the state has been unwavering in their devotion to our farmers. And the Shapiro Administration has been unwavering in our support for Pennsylvania farmers, bringing the right people, and the right funding and resources to the table help them recover.”

The Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory is part of the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System, alongside Penn State’s Animal Diagnostic Laboratory and the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. Together, these labs tested 672,342 samples between July 2024 and June 2025, including more than 200,000 poultry samples.

A new veterinary lab at Penn State’s Beaver Campus, funded with $6 million in the 2024-25 budget, will expand testing capacity once completed.

Governor Shapiro’s 2025-26 proposal adds $2 million for operations and continues his commitment to animal health, including $11 million for HPAI Recovery Fund reserves, which have already distributed nearly $15.7 million in grants to 292 applicants.

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