New York State has ordered the closure of live bird markets in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester for a week after detecting seven cases of avian flu in poultry at these markets. The Governor’s office stated that safeguards are being taken to protect public health.
According to officials, all infected flocks will be depopulated and the markets must sell down their inventory and complete cleaning and disinfection procedures before reopening.
The state has not seen any human cases of avian influenza, and the threat to the public is considered low. Public health officials say that the current risk remains low, and they are working closely with other agencies to ensure staff exposed to sick birds receive treatment.
The closures come after several live bird markets have been affected in recent years, including a 2022 outbreak at Kikiriki Live Poultry in Brooklyn and Tiba Live Poultry Market in Queens.
These markets, which operate under strict protocols, must test samples from poultry for bird flu routinely and maintain cleanliness four times a year. The closures serve as a precautionary measure to curb the spread of the disease.
Source: https://abc7ny.com/post/live-bird-markets-nyc-long-island-westchester-shut-down-7-avian-flu-cases-poultry/15876998