A bird flu outbreak was detected at a Staten Island live poultry market in New York, according to the state Department of Agriculture and Markets. The market, which handles thousands of birds daily, has been closed for five days after new cases were discovered on March 3, 6, and 7.
The closure came after proactive surveillance by the department found the virus at the market. The market’s owners have completed cleaning, disinfection, and depopulation, but it will not be allowed to reopen until an additional inspection is conducted.
Animal welfare groups, including NYCLASS, are calling for all live animal markets to be shut down until the outbreak is controlled. They say these markets provide a breeding ground for bird flu viruses, which can jump to humans and potentially reassort with human seasonal flu, creating a pandemic risk.
NYCLASS has documented inhumane conditions, including sick and wounded birds, as well as unclean environments. The group’s founder, mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa, called for tougher regulations, saying “the lockdown did not work” and it’s time to shut down the markets permanently.
A veterinarian from NYCLASS said that these markets pose a significant risk to public health due to close contact between humans and stressed animals. The Department of Agriculture and Markets will continue to assess whether additional policies are needed to ensure animal and public safety.
Source: https://www.silive.com/news/2025/03/bird-flu-was-detected-at-staten-island-live-poultry-market.html