New York City has placed warning signs near bodies of water in public parks across the city due to the bird flu outbreak, which is decimating chicken populations. The signs advise visitors and their pets not to touch or remove sick, injured, or dead birds, as the virus can rarely infect humans.
If a New Yorker finds a sick, injured, or dead bird in a park, they should notify NYC Parks staff by calling 311. This citywide effort, in partnership with the Health Department, aims to educate residents on handling wild birds safely.
The outbreak has led to recalls and price increases nationwide. A cat food company in Washington State recalled some products after discovering potential contamination with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1. Two domestic indoor cats tested positive for the strain, prompting euthanasia for one and treatment for the other.
The bird flu outbreak has also contributed to a surge in egg prices, which have reached an all-time high of $4.95 per dozen in US cities, according to Politico. President Donald Trump blamed the price increase on his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, with federal officials working to reduce prices.
Source: https://www.silive.com/news/2025/03/amid-outbreak-these-bird-flu-warning-signs-have-been-placed-in-nyc-parks.html