A new outbreak of bird flu has hit a live poultry market in Queens, New York, killing another 150 birds. This is the first case in New York City since early February, when over 1,000 birds were infected. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the cases.
Bird markets in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester were shut down last week for cleaning and disinfection procedures after the initial outbreak. However, the new cases have raised concerns about the virus’s spread.
More than 166 million birds have been slaughtered to contain the outbreak, with over 30 million egg layers wiped out since January. The Department of Agriculture has implemented a policy of killing entire flocks when the virus is found on farms. This has led to a 12% drop in the number of egg layers nationwide.
The retail price of eggs has more than doubled since the outbreak began, boosting profits for egg producers despite soaring costs. There are currently no human cases of avian influenza, and the threat to the public remains low.
Source: https://abc7ny.com/post/nyc-bird-flu-cases-dozens-birds-infected-live-poultry-market-queens/15980880