Avian Influenza, also known as bird flu, has been affecting wild, commercial, and backyard birds in Pennsylvania since 2022. Highly Pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been affecting wild birds as well as domestic poultry species.  HPAI in birds can have high death rates for domestic poultry such as chickens, quail, and turkeys.

Avian flu has shown up in dairy farms in other states and one dairy worker has been infected in Texas.

However, Dr. Alex Hamberg, State Veterinarian of Pennsylvania said there have been no cases of avian flu in cattle in Pennsylvania.

“Thankfully we have not had in here in Pennsylvania yet, and we’re taking precautions to prevent it from coming into Pennsylvania and set up the infrastructure to detect it, “said Dr. Hamberg.

According to Dr. Hamberg, pasteurized milk products and pasteurized milk is safe and there is no consumer threat.

“We know pasteurization is very effective at destroying the virus. So yes, the virus has been found in milk, but we know that pasteurized pasteurization is extremely effective at destroying it, “said Dr. Hamberg.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has issued a quarantine to protect the poultry from spread of the virus.

<a href="https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Animals/AHDServices/diseases/avian_influenza/Pages/default.aspx">Avian Influenza</a>, also known as bird flu, has been affecting wild, commercial, and backyard birds in Pennsylvania since 2022. Highly Pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been affecting wild birds as well as domestic poultry species.  HPAI in birds can have high death rates for domestic poultry such as chickens, quail, and turkeys.
Avian flu has shown up in dairy farms in other states and one dairy worker has been infected in Texas.
However, Dr. Alex Hamberg, State Veterinarian of Pennsylvania said there have been no cases of avian flu in cattle in Pennsylvania.
“Thankfully we have not had in here in Pennsylvania yet, and we’re taking precautions to prevent it from coming into Pennsylvania and set up the infrastructure to detect it, “said Dr. Hamberg.
According to Dr. Hamberg, pasteurized milk products and pasteurized milk is safe and there is no consumer threat.
“We know pasteurization is very effective at destroying the virus. So yes, the virus has been found in milk, but we know that pasteurized pasteurization is extremely effective at destroying it, “said Dr. Hamberg.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has issued a quarantine to protect the poultry from spread of the virus.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from <a href="https://www.witf.org">WITF</a>, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at <a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

The Spark

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at <a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

Bird flu spreads to cows. Is Pa cattle at risk?

The U.S. Supreme Court decided earlier this year that cities can enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outdoors, even in areas where shelter space is lacking. John Leciew, Pennlive Patriot News Reporter has been following the unhoused trends in Harrisburg and Cumberland County.

"It is right here in our backyard. Everyone was seeing it. We definitely saw more homeless, in the Harrisburg area. And we'd like everybody else who would drive into the city and witness it, wanted to know what was going on with them. So we we approached it from very, all angles, looking at the agencies who were coordinating and trying to serve the various needs of the homeless, but also then getting into the shelters and talking to the homeless themselves and actually going to some of the tent encampments along the river and knocking on tents and just trying to get the stories of what led people to homelessness, "said Luciew.

There were nearly 16 homeless encampments along Riverfront Park in Harrisburg. As spring approached, City Spokesman Matt Maisel announced the unhoused people had to vacate the area.

"Well, I do think that is part of the ongoing dialog between the city, which is trying to manage being a livable city for all citizens and all visitors who come to to come to these major events on Riverfront Park and the homelessness, the homeless people and the people who help serve them, "said Luciew.

Two best known Shelters in Harrisburg is the Bethseda Mission and YWCA. While following this story, Luciew found there were more organizations stepping in to help the unhoused people.

"During the winter, there is a drop in shelter run by Downtown Daily Bread, which is the, right across from the Capitol building that provides hot meals, every day of the week, every day of the year around lunchtime. But they also have other services that are focused on the homeless there, including a visiting health program where they they get regular checkups. And if they have chronic issues, they have their issues treated. They also have, mail service. In other words, if you're homeless, living in a tent, you don't get any mail. And but but you can have your mail delivered to Downtown Daily Bread," said Luciew.

Listen to the podcast to hear more of the conversation.

The U.S. Supreme Court decided earlier this year that cities can enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outdoors, even in areas where shelter space is lacking. <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/news/2024/04/homeless-given-friday-deadline-to-move-from-harrisburgs-riverfront-park.html">John Leciew, Pennlive Patriot News Reporter</a> has been following the unhoused trends in Harrisburg and Cumberland County.
"It is right here in our backyard. Everyone was seeing it. We definitely saw more homeless, in the Harrisburg area. And we'd like everybody else who would drive into the city and witness it, wanted to know what was going on with them. So we we approached it from very, all angles, looking at the agencies who were coordinating and trying to serve the various needs of the homeless, but also then getting into the shelters and talking to the homeless themselves and actually going to some of the tent encampments along the river and knocking on tents and just trying to get the stories of what led people to homelessness, "said Luciew.
There were nearly 16 homeless encampments along Riverfront Park in Harrisburg. As spring approached, City Spokesman Matt Maisel announced the unhoused people had to vacate the area.
"Well, I do think that is part of the ongoing dialog between the city, which is trying to manage being a livable city for all citizens and all visitors who come to to come to these major events on Riverfront Park and the homelessness, the homeless people and the people who help serve them, "said Luciew.
Two best known Shelters in Harrisburg is the Bethseda Mission and YWCA. While following this story, Luciew found there were more organizations stepping in to help the unhoused people.
"During the winter, there is a drop in shelter run by Downtown Daily Bread, which is the, right across from the Capitol building that provides hot meals, every day of the week, every day of the year around lunchtime. But they also have other services that are focused on the homeless there, including a visiting health program where they they get regular checkups. And if they have chronic issues, they have their issues treated. They also have, mail service. In other words, if you're homeless, living in a tent, you don't get any mail. And but but you can have your mail delivered to Downtown Daily Bread," said Luciew.
Listen to the podcast to hear more of the conversation.

Journalist Roundtable: Unhoused Crisis in Harrisburg

As we are in an election year, there is a strong need for poll workers. The typical role of a poll worker includes showing up to the precincts at 6 a.m. on Election Day, set up the polls, help check people in to distribute the ballots, and overall make sure those ballots and voters are taken care of.

Sean Drasher, Director of Lebanon County Board of Elections says the county has a waiting list for poll workers.

“We always that waiting list is always there, but we're always churning through it. So, there are some years we've had a waiting list of 100 people waiting to get jobs. But then on when the election rolls around, we might have 20 openings and you start calling that waiting list, and all of a sudden, the first 20 people you call might have moved since they asked to work or they're not available, they're already scheduled for work on that election day, or they can't get childcare. So, you might get through those 100 people on the waiting list. You might get to number 50 before you find somebody that can jump into a role. So that we do have a waiting list. We're very blessed or I'm very proud of our citizens here, but I don't want it to sound like that means we can't constantly be taking more volunteers because we really need to keep restocking that, “said Drasher.

The Lebanon County Board of Elections also encourages college and high school students to get involved in volunteering and signing up to be poll workers.

“We're trying to implement that in our district as well. It's a great opportunity for the kids. They for some of these kids, this is the first time they've ever had a job. And it's little skills. I think for us, it's. Hey, we need help signing people in on election day for these kids. They're learning, “said Drasher.

As we are in an election year, there is a strong need for poll workers. The typical role of a poll worker includes showing up to the precincts at 6 a.m. on Election Day, set up the polls, help check people in to distribute the ballots, and overall make sure those ballots and voters are taken care of.
Sean Drasher, Director of Lebanon County Board of Elections says the county has a waiting list for poll workers.
“We always that waiting list is always there, but we're always churning through it. So, there are some years we've had a waiting list of 100 people waiting to get jobs. But then on when the election rolls around, we might have 20 openings and you start calling that waiting list, and all of a sudden, the first 20 people you call might have moved since they asked to work or they're not available, they're already scheduled for work on that election day, or they can't get childcare. So, you might get through those 100 people on the waiting list. You might get to number 50 before you find somebody that can jump into a role. So that we do have a waiting list. We're very blessed or I'm very proud of our citizens here, but I don't want it to sound like that means we can't constantly be taking more volunteers because we really need to keep restocking that, “said Drasher.
The Lebanon County Board of Elections also encourages college and high school students to get involved in volunteering and signing up to be poll workers.
“We're trying to implement that in our district as well. It's a great opportunity for the kids. They for some of these kids, this is the first time they've ever had a job. And it's little skills. I think for us, it's. Hey, we need help signing people in on election day for these kids. They're learning, “said Drasher.

Lebanon County has waiting list for poll workers

Service dogs are more than just pets. They are highly trained working members of the community aiding those with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities.

Deb Tack, Executive Director of Susquehanna Service Dogs was a guest on The Spark to talk about the difference between emotional support and service dogs.

“A service dog is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act. That means that it is trained at least one. And for our program, we do three specialized tasks to assist an individual who has a documented disability. An emotional support animal is an absolutely fantastic pet, be it either it doesn't even need to be a dog, it could even be a cat or another type of animal. And what that is, is that animal is providing emotional support for its owner. It doesn't mean that it has the rights to go out into public spaces, but it does mean that for an individual who lives in housing that is rented, that they are able to provide documentation to their landlord from a medical professional saying that they need that animal for that emotional support within their home, “said Tack.

In Pennsylvania, if you’re disabled, state law and the federal Americans with Disabilities (ADA) protect your right to bring your service animal to all public accommodations, as well as restaurants and bars, and hotels.

“If I were to have my service dog and I were to say go to the restaurant, and the person wasn't sure about my dog, they could ask me, is this a service dog trained to assist with a disability? If the answer to that is yes, then they can ask what task or task has it been trained to perform? “said Tack.

Under the Americans with Disabilities At, there is not a registry for service dogs. As a result, there’s a growing market for counterfeit service dog certifications, vests, and ID’s making it easier for pet owners to claim their dog as a service dog.  According to Tack, the consequences could be dangerous.

“I think it puts everyone in and it can put people in harm's way. So again, I think people really need to know the temperament of a dog because there are lots of pet friendly places too. But I think just before you take your dog out in public, make sure it's something that they enjoy and make sure that if you are taking a dog in public who has a pet, that you are going places that are pet friendly, there are lots of places that only allow service dogs. And I feel that, saying that the dog that you have is a service dog when it is not, is. It's just not right, “said Tack.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Susquehanna Service Dogs.

Service dogs are more than just pets. They are highly trained working members of the community aiding those with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities.
Deb Tack, Executive Director of Susquehanna Service Dogs was a guest on The Spark to talk about the difference between emotional support and service dogs.
“A service dog is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act. That means that it is trained at least one. And for our program, we do three specialized tasks to assist an individual who has a documented disability. An emotional support animal is an absolutely fantastic pet, be it either it doesn't even need to be a dog, it could even be a cat or another type of animal. And what that is, is that animal is providing emotional support for its owner. It doesn't mean that it has the rights to go out into public spaces, but it does mean that for an individual who lives in housing that is rented, that they are able to provide documentation to their landlord from a medical professional saying that they need that animal for that emotional support within their home, “said Tack.
In Pennsylvania, if you’re disabled, state law and the federal Americans with Disabilities (ADA) protect your right to bring your service animal to all public accommodations, as well as restaurants and bars, and hotels.
“If I were to have my service dog and I were to say go to the restaurant, and the person wasn't sure about my dog, they could ask me, is this a service dog trained to assist with a disability? If the answer to that is yes, then they can ask what task or task has it been trained to perform? “said Tack.
Under the Americans with Disabilities At, there is not a registry for service dogs. As a result, there’s a growing market for counterfeit service dog certifications, vests, and ID’s making it easier for pet owners to claim their dog as a service dog.  According to Tack, the consequences could be dangerous.
“I think it puts everyone in and it can put people in harm's way. So again, I think people really need to know the temperament of a dog because there are lots of pet friendly places too. But I think just before you take your dog out in public, make sure it's something that they enjoy and make sure that if you are taking a dog in public who has a pet, that you are going places that are pet friendly, there are lots of places that only allow service dogs. And I feel that, saying that the dog that you have is a service dog when it is not, is. It's just not right, “said Tack.
<a href="https://www.khs.org/">CLICK HERE</a> to learn more about Susquehanna Service Dogs.

Bird flu spreads to cows. Is Pa cattle at risk?

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