The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture on Monday confirmed the first case of bird flu in domestic poultry this year in Lehigh County.

According to the department, the bird flu was found in a 50,000-bird layer chicken flock on a commercial poultry farm. The name of the farm has not been released.

The last time the virus had been found in Pennsylvania commercial poultry was in February 2024.

A task force is at the farm to carry out a comprehensive response plan to help keep the virus from spreading further, the department said.

The department has quarantined the farm and all commercial poultry facilities, restricting the movement of poultry products within a 10-kilometer radius of the infected flock.

Preliminary samples indicated the presence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) when tested by the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System. Samples were shipped to a U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory for confirmation.

While there is no risk to the general public, and poultry products and eggs are safe to eat if cooked properly, the virus is highly infectious and is generally fatal to domestic birds.

Pennsylvania has been on high alert since the beginning of the outbreak in 2022. The last detection in domestic birds was in a backyard flock in October 2024 in Venango County.

Pennsylvania continues to test poultry on farms and in live bird markets. Quarantines are in place with restrictions that are adjusted to set limits on transporting poultry within a set radius of any farm where an infection is confirmed.

Anyone who suspects their poultry is infected with avian influenza, should contact the Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services at 717-772-2852, option 1.

Poultry farmers and those raising backyard flocks should refer to the PADLS website control zone address checker map to determine if your flock is located in the control zone or surveillance zone. The map will reflect the zones based on these preliminary finding,

Anyone who encounters a sick or dead wild bird is asked to report it to the Pennsylvania Game Commission at 1-833-PGC-WILD.

Anyone who has had contact with sick or dead birds and is not feeling well should contact their primary care physician or the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 877-724-3258.