A42:LincastBf Farming, Saturday, November 15, 1997
State Lifts Avian Quarantine
(ConltniMd from Pago Al)
Hayes, who spoke al a press
conference at the agriculture build
ing in Harrisburg, said, “I want to
take an action which I believe is
appropriate and prudent”
The notice, effective immedi
ately, allows the Lancaster County
poultry industry to resume normal
activity in the 7S-square-mile
zone. No permits are required for
the movement of poultry and poul
try products through the area.
The quarantine has effected
about 1.84 million layers, of which
a total number of approximately
1.024 million birds have been
destroyed. Sixteen premises have
been affected, including two in
Lebanon and 14 in Lancaster.
However, noted Hayes, three
premises containing 660,000 birds
remain under special quarantine.
Nothing can move from the pre
mise without permit Two are
expected to come off the quaran
tine on approximately Dec. 1. The
third is expected to come off
approximately Dec. IS.
“Surveillance will continue,”
said Hayes. “The lift of the general
quarantine does not mean, nor
should it be interpreted, that biose
curity measures are no longer
necessary.”
In fact Hayes urged producers
to continue strict biosecurity on
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their farms.
“The poultry industry has
shown tremendous courage and
they have shown progressive lead
ership with regard to biosecurity
measures.
“Biosecurity,” Hayes said,
“should continue. The general
quarantine is lifted. But that does
not mean that we should not con
tinue to be vigilant, that does not
mean that we shouldn’t continue to
use biosecurity measures.”
However, the ban on poultry
exhibits at the Farm Show remains
in effect
There have been no new cases of
A.I. since July this year.
Hayes indicated that on June 18
this year. Gov. Tom Ridge signed
legislation appropriating $S mil
lion for the war on A.I. The amount
of money paid out as of the end of
October is 5796.902.60. Of that
$475,000 went to indemnity pay
ments for producers affected. Of
the total, $59,000 went to eggs,
$121,000 went to depopulation,
$12,000 to evacuation, $92,000 to
cleaning and disinfecting, $16,000
to flats destroyed, and $60,000 to
new equipment
Last summer, the state depart
ment of agriculture petitioned
USDA to provide A.I. vaccine.
Four million doses woe procured
at a cost of $120,000. The state was
informed that the manufacturer
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assures a shelf life for the vaccine
of at least two years.
The poultry industry is valued at
$646.6 million. In 1983, Hayes
recalled that avian influenza
“wreaked havoc” on the industry,
which today is ranked fourth in the
country for all chicken inventory
and in egg production.
“Its return in 1997 of course car
ried a great consternation for all of
us those of us in public life and
certainly those who are in the pri
vate life, specifically in the poultry
industry,” he said.
During this “very stressful time”
in the poultry industry, Hayes
noted, there is still the threat from
A.I.
“While we arc winning the
battle,” Hayes said, “I am not pre
pared to declare victory. We must
continue to protect our poultry
industry in whatever way
necessary.”
PDA Announces New
HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.)
A new chief for the Pennsylva
nia Department of Agriculture’s
Bureau of Animal Health and
Diagnostic Services Division of
Veterinary Laboratories began
work on Monday this week.
Dr. H. Graham Purchase will
provide new administrative
responsibilities for the lab for all
animal species, it was announced
at a press conference in Harrisburg
Monday.
Purchase, who received his vet
erinary degree at Onderstepoort,
the veterinary school of the Uni
versity of Pretoria in Pretoria,
for HOG, BUILDINGS, REMODELING & EQUIPMENT
A new chief for the Pennsylvania Department of Agricul
ture’s Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services
Division of Veterinary Laboratories began work on Monday
this week. Dr. H. Graham Purchase, far right, will provide
new administrative responsibilities for the lab for all animal
species, It was announced at a press conference In Harris
burg Monday. From left, Dr. Max Van Busklrk, director, Pa.
Bureau of Animal Health; Sen. Noah Wenger, R-36th; Sam
Hayes, Pennsylvania secretary of agriculture; and
Purchase.
South Africa, worked in Michigan
for the USDA. He received a doc
torate in microbiology from
Michigan State University in
1970.
Purchase was one of the primary
discoverers of the first Marek’s
Disease vaccine, the most effec
tive vaccine against any kind of
cancer in any animal. The vaccine
is made and sold by a variety of
companies in the U.S. and
worldwide.
Purchase’s primary goal is to
validate accreditation of the lab, to
make sure the accreditation con
tinues. Purchase oversees about 40
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Lab Chief
people on staff.
According to Purchase, there
are almost nine billion chickens in
the U.S., and almost every one gets
the Marek’s Disease vaccine. Vac
cines are an essential ingredient in
providing healthy birds for a rapid
ly expanding industry.
Now, many vaccines are
injected right into the embryo in
the egg—before it is hatched. It is
those kinds of technologies which
make the industry so exciting.
Purchase noted.
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