Gov. Josh Shapiro honored certain employees of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) for their work in responding to the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak in 2022-23.
Of the 54 commonwealth employees to receive a Governor’s Award for Excellence on October 23, 11 were with the PDA.
Deepanker Tewari, director of the Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory, was among the recipients. According to a press release from Shapiro’s office, Tewari lead a team of technicians and veterinary diagnostic specialists that provided crucial support to Pennsylvania’s $7.1 billion poultry industry during the 2022 outbreak.
“The highly skilled team processed high volumes of samples to provide quick and accurate test results so that field staff could direct the emergency response. Under Dr. Tewari’s leadership, the laboratory team worked efficiently and produced innovative research during the costliest animal health and poultry industry crisis in Pennsylvania and U.S. history,” the release stated.
Deepanker Tewari receives a Governor’s Award for Excellence from Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.Courtesy Office of Pennsylvania Governor
Also receiving the award were Erin Ackerman, Sally Adams, Nancy Diehl, Dawn Dilling, Amberlee Dressler, Sarah McAlanis, Amy Nesselrodt, Heather Palm, Jessica Wingate and Sarah Yurisic, all members of the PDA Avian Influenza Veterinary Field Response Team.
Their efforts “involved long hours of planning and coordination across federal, state and local agencies.”
“The team focused on treating the animals and their owners with dignity and respect, and with understanding for cultural and religious differences. Their work minimized damage to the economy and food supply, as well as the emotional hardships for affected business owners,” the release stated.
In 2022, Pennsylvania lost 25 commercial poultry flocks to HPAI, accounting for about 4.35 million birds.
So far in 2023, the state has had six premises holding commercial poultry affected by HPAI, as well as 22 non-commercial operations, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
View our continuing coverage of the global avian influenza situation.
To learn more about HPAI cases in commercial poultry flocks in the United States, Mexico and Canada, see an interactive map on WATTPoultry.com.
