Pennsylvania state veterinarian Craig Shultz said it's up to all of us to prevent such a loss as other parts of the country are seeing.

The poultry and egg industry in Pennsylvania is responsible for $13 billion in economic activity."The same biosecurity principles apply, whether you're operating a commericial farm or have a hobby or backyard farm," Shultz said. "People need to take precautions to protect the industry and animal health."Recently, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture acting secretary Russell Redding announced that the department is suspending all avian competitions at state-approved agricultural fairs in 2015, as well as at the 2016 Pennsylvania Farm Show."This is not a decision we made lightly, but it is one we feel is necessary given the threat," Redding said at that point. "Across the country, 145 flocks have tested positive for the strain, which has killed or forced producers to euthanize 15 million birds."The effect has been devastating," he said. "We do not want to see that kind of impact here in Pennsylvania."What can you do? If you're a backyard chicken enthusiast, or small-farm egg producer, you should be cautious when adding a new bird or birds to your flock."No matter what the species, it's always a good idea to maintain separation for 21 days," Shultz said. "There really aren't many symptoms or signs, other than you'll have dead birds."People need to be aware that avian influenza is carried by wildfowl, such as geese, ducks and swans. The wild birds don't exhibit any symptoms, or suffer from the effects of the disease. Yet, it's extremely contagious and can sicken and kill domesticated birds such as chickens, ducks, quail, pheasants, guinea fowl and turkeys.Shultz said that in the western United States, the current outbreak started with a transmission from wild birds to domesticated birds, along the Mississippi flyway in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa."Many wild birds are carriers and have exposure to domesticated birds, sometimes along waterways or ponds," Shultz said. "Once it gets into a flock of domesticated birds, it passes rapidly from bird to bird."That's why even a backyard chicken enthusiast should immediately begin utilizing biosecurity measures, such as keeping the area clean, and taking care not to carry litter (bedding and droppings) from one area to another, such as on boots or other footwear.In the meantime, as states in other parts of the country reel from the effects of the outbreak, Pennsylvania is prepared to respond to an outbreak if it should happen here."The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is working proactively with the United States Department of Agriculture, other government agencies and the state's poultry industry to prepare for an outbreak of H5N2," Redding said. "The most important prevention technique is for anyone who owns or works with poultry to apply sound biosecurity measures whether on a commerical farm, in the wild, or at a hobby or backyard farm."