October 28, 2025 - Harrisburg, PA
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and State Veterinarian Dr. Alex Hamberg will host a tour of the Pennsylvania Veterinary Lab, one of three labs in a system that serves as the first line of prevention and defense against animal diseases, including Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), that threaten Pennsylvania's $132.5 billion agriculture and food industry. More than 1,319 of Pennsylvania's 10,361 poultry farms are in Lancaster County, where a state-led team of experts is responding to confirmed infections at six locations, with a total of 57,900 birds. The event will highlight the critical importance of biosecurity in disease prevention, and resources available to Pennsylvania farmers to protect their operations. Sec. Redding will be joined by poultry industry representatives to discuss the coordinated, aggressive response by a team of Shapiro Administration agencies along with Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences, and Pennsylvania Center for Poultry and Livestock Excellence at PennAg Industries. WHO: Agriculture Secretary Russell ReddingPennsylvania State Veterinarian Dr. Alex HambergMartz's Gap View Hunting Preserve Owner Michael MartzExecutive Vice President of PennAg Industries Chris HerrPenn State College of Agricultural Sciences Associate Professor of Poultry Science Dr. John Boney WHEN: Tuesday, October 28 at 1 p.m. WHERE: Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory, 2305 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg, PA 17110VISUALS: Limited laboratory tour will include a live simulation of testing conducted to detect HPAI and other animal diseases. Tour will not include laboratory areas that require extensive biosecurity measures to contain live viruses or other biohazards. RSVP: Press attending should RSVP with news outlet and photographer and reporter names to aginfo@pa.gov.
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