As more cases of bird flu are reported across species and locations, states across the country are taking precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

Hundreds of thousands of people will gather at the Pennsylvania Farm Show beginning later this week—a potential breeding ground for virus transmission, which the state Department of Agriculture has taken extra steps to try to prevent.

Here’s a look at how Pennsylvania and Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration are responding to the bird flu and trying to prevent a widespread outbreak among cattle and humans.

What is the status of the avian flu outbreak in Pennsylvania and across the United States?

As of Dec. 31, there have been no reported cases of bird flu in cattle or humans in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania has been fighting the avian flu outbreak since 2022. To date, 32 commercial flocks, 39 backyard flocks, and a total of more than 4.7 million birds in Pennsylvania have been affected by the outbreak—mostly in early 2023—resulting in one of the worst outbreaks of bird flu among commercial flocks across the country.

But Pennsylvania has largely been able to quell the outbreak among poultry since then, spending more than $30 million last year on testing and reimbursement for farmers. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, there have been no cases of bird flu in commercial poultry since February.

The last confirmed infection was in October in Venango County, in a backyard flock of 20 birds that did not produce eggs or other products, Department of Agriculture spokesperson Shannon Powers said in an email.

Nationally, farmers have been forced to slaughter more than 100 million chickens and turkeys since 2022 to prevent an outbreak. However, those efforts have largely failed, now that the virus has mutated to infect cows and make it more likely to spread to humans; 875 herds of cattle in 16 states have tested positive for the virus, and more than 60 people have been infected.

Are Pennsylvania residents at risk of contracting the virus?

Risk to humans remains low in Pennsylvania and nationally. Approximately 34 California residents have been infected since March, and symptoms remain mostly mild—although two individuals in Louisiana and Canada experienced severe symptoms. Most of the documented human cases so far are in California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency last month.

What is Pennsylvania’s government doing to prevent spread of the virus?

Pennsylvania has taken “aggressive precautions to protect Pennsylvania’s dairy and poultry industries,” Powers said. Since November, the state has required milk processors and shippers to collect and test milk samples from bulk milk tank trucks. This is at no cost to dairy farmers.

Poultry continues to be tested on poultry farms and at live bird markets, Powers added.

Will the bird flu affect the Pennsylvania Farm Show?

The Pennsylvania Farm Show—the nation’s largest indoor agricultural exhibition—starts this weekend to celebrate the state’s agricultural industries. The Farm Show, which runs Saturday through Jan. 11 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, usually attracts more than 500,000 people each year—making it a potential hot spot for virus transmission.

But the Department of Agriculture has taken several precautions to prevent the spread: Live bird exhibits are limited to birds headed to slaughter to stop transmission back to farms, and Farm Show attendees won’t be allowed to handle or pet the birds.

Any live animal at the Farm Show must have a veterinary inspection signed by an accredited veterinarian within 30 days of arrival.

Veterinarians will also check animals for physical signs of disease once they arrive at the Farm Show Complex. The animals will be checked again during daily rounds during the weeklong exhibition.

Are eggs safe to eat, and is milk safe to drink in Pennsylvania?

Yes, egg and pasteurized milk supplies from reputable suppliers that follow state food-safety laws remain safe to consume.

Consumers of raw milk are at a greater risk of contracting the bird flu or other viruses, because raw milk has not been heated and cooled to kill active viruses.

How is Pennsylvania’s medical industry responding?

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are working on a vaccine to protect humans and animals from the H5N1, or avian flu, virus. The vaccine, which is in clinical trials among cattle, uses the same messenger RNA technology used in COVID-19 vaccines.

2025 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The Pennsylvania Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 4 drawing

26-32-43-54-56, Powerball: 24, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 2 numbers from Jan. 4 drawing

Day: 3-8, Wild: 1

Evening: 1-7, Wild: 4

Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Jan. 4 drawing

Day: 0-6-9, Wild: 1

Evening: 0-7-4, Wild: 4

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Jan. 4 drawing

Day: 3-8-5-7, Wild: 1

Evening: 2-3-9-9, Wild: 4

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from Jan. 4 drawing

Day: 3-4-2-6-0, Wild: 1

Evening: 4-5-5-2-8, Wild: 4

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash4Life numbers from Jan. 4 drawing

01-21-24-32-46, Cash Ball: 01

Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 5 numbers from Jan. 4 drawing

02-08-29-39-41

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Treasure Hunt numbers from Jan. 4 drawing

04-06-07-28-29

Check Treasure Hunt payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Match 6 Lotto numbers from Jan. 4 drawing

14-24-25-37-38-47

Check Match 6 Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from Jan. 4 drawing

12-25-63-65-66, Powerball: 14

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

• Sign the Ticket: Ensure your ticket has your signature, name, address and phone number on the back.
• Prizes up to $600: Claim at any PA Lottery retailer or by mail: Pennsylvania Lottery, ATTN: CLAIMS, PO BOX 8671, Harrisburg, PA 17105.
• Prizes from $600 to $2,500: Use a Claim Form to claim at a retailer or by mail: Pennsylvania Lottery, ATTN: CLAIMS, PO BOX 8671, Harrisburg, PA 17105.
• Prizes over $2,500: Mail your signed ticket with a Claim Form or in person at a Lottery Area Office (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

Lottery Headquarters is currently not open to the public. Visit the PA Lottery website for other office locations near you.

When are the Pennsylvania Lottery drawings held?

• Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
• Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
• Pick 2, 3, 4, 5: 1:35 p.m. and 6:59 p.m. daily.
• Cash4Life: 9 p.m. daily.
• Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. daily.
• Treasure Hunt: 1:35 p.m. daily.
• Match 6 Lotto: 6:59 p.m. Monday and Thursday.
• Powerball Double Play: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Pennsylvania editor. You can send feedback using this form.

While putting air in his tire near the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Sean Malloy said he uses the highway often.

Malloy said he welcomes the change to open road tolling if it means it makes his commute more convenient.

“No brainer. They should’ve done that a long time ago,” said Malloy. 

Tollbooths will soon become a thing of the past on the Pennsylvania Turnpike with the change that begins on Sunday.

Drivers will be charged electronically as they pass under overhead structures called gantries, instead of the traditional stop-and-go tolling. For E-ZPass drivers, the toll money will be taken out of your account, but others will receive a bill in the mail. 

The commission advises drivers to make sure they mount their E-ZPass tag in their vehicle and have all their information including their vehicle and credit card updated.

Open road tolling allows drivers to pass through a toll, without the hassle of stopping. This method also reduces incidents on the highway and increases customer convenience.

The change will first start east of Reading and along the Northeast Extension.

“I’ve had E-ZPass for a few years, so I’m kind of used to the drive-thru. I think it’s going to make it a lot simpler for everybody. I think it’s going to avoid a lot of congestion,” said Pennsylvania resident Tony Cuttone.

Another change is how the toll will be calculated. The turnpike will now use the number of axles, height, and miles traveled rather than the vehicle’s weight to determine the rate.

A 5% toll increase will also take effect on Sunday, but the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission said that with open road tolling and other changes, most non-commercial drivers will pay less than they did before, but commercial drivers could see an increase of up to $5.

“We worked really hard behind the scenes to make sure that all of the changes that are coming with open road tolling are all revenue neutral,” said Marissa Orbanek with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. 

Orbanek said the changes will modernize the system and also make it safer to travel.

“We actually have open road tolling highlighted throughout our system currently at the Delaware River Bridge which is closer to the customers in Philadelphia. And where we already highlighted open road tolling, we’ve seen a decrease in the percentage of crash rates,” she said.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission said it will begin removing the toll booths later this year.