Bird Flu alert in US: Poultry, live bird markets in New York, Long Island closed. Here's what we know so far

The US authorities have been forced to seal off live bird markets in New York City and Long Island along with Westchester County for seven days after seven incidents of avian flu in poultry were found at markets situated in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens, reported ABC News. The flu was discovered during a routine inspection.

The infected flocks will be depopulated, and the markets are required to offload all of their inventory prior to cleaning and disinfection procedures. They will remain closed for a period of five days after cleaning and disinfection.

New York governor Kathy Hochul mentioned that avian flu does not pose a public health threat, as reported by ABC News. Officials claimed there are no human cases of avian influenza in New York, and the threat to the public is low.


The virus is found to spread amongst poultry, wild birds, as well as among some dairy cows and domestic pet cats.

Rising numbers of birds have been infected recently, with roughly 7 million affected in November, 18 million in December, and 23 million in January, according to the latest figures from the US Department of Agriculture.

FAQ

What is avian flu?
Avian flu, also known as bird flu, is an infectious disease caused by influenza viruses that primarily affect birds, particularly wild birds and poultry.

Can bird flu harm humans?
Bird flu usually does not infect humans. However, there have been some rare cases of human infection with these viruses, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.