Harrisburg, PA - Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Samuel E. Hayes Jr. announced that a flock of turkey hens in northern Lancaster County has been confirmed positive for the H7N2 avian influenza virus.
A site quarantine has been imposed on the affected farm. The flock, containing 24,800 birds, will be destroyed by the owner to prevent further spread of the virus. The farm is just outside the perimeter of the area that had been under a general quarantine lifted on Nov. 10.
"We are very concerned about the presence of the H7N2 virus in another flock," Hayes said. "This is the first evidence of the virus in turkeys and the first new infection since mid-July. Clearly, we must remain vigilant in our biosecurity efforts as we work to contain any future spread of the virus."
In June, Gov. Tom Ridge signed legislation to appropriate $5 million for Lancaster and Lebanon county poultry producers affected by the outbreak. Sixteen farms in the two counties had a total of more than 1.8 million laying hens infected by the virus.
To date, Hayes said more than $841,000 has been paid to producers for the value of the birds and eggs destroyed, the costs of depopulating the flocks and for cleaning and disinfecting. Farmers also were reimbursed for costs associated with excavation, materials destroyed, cost of burial and feed value.
Hayes noted that the H7N2 strain of the virus continues to be no threat to human health.
In 1996, Pennsylvania's poultry industry was valued at $646.6 million. Pennsylvania is eighth in the country in turkey production. There are 11.7 million turkeys valued at approximately $103.2 million.
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