NYC, Long Island live poultry markets shut down after 7 local cases of bird flu discovered
All live poultry markets in New York City, Long Island and Westchester County will be temporarily shut down after seven local cases of bird flu were discovered this week, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Friday.
Birds inflected with the avian influenza were found during routine inspections at live markets in The Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens, the governor said.
Officials from the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets are “now working closely with market owners to de-populate all infected flocks out of an abundance of caution and to thwart any further transmission,” Hochul told reporters.
Hochul emphasized that New Yorkers “should not be concerned” and that “there is no immediate public health threat.
“These are simply measured, common sense steps that will curb the spread of bird flu and ultimately keep New Yorkers safe,” she said.
The shut-down order for live bird markets took effect Friday and will last through next Friday, Feb. 14.
During that time, no poultry will be delivered to the markets found to have infected birds. All uninfected markets must “sell down all inventory,” thoroughly clean and disinfect their premises and then remain closed for at least five days until cleared by an inspector, she said.
State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald stressed that there are no human cases of the virus in New York and that the current strain does not spread easily to humans, with only 67 total cases in the country since 2022.
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The temporary market shutdown is not expected to have any immediate impact on egg prices, although McDonald said the global strategy of killing off entire flocks to stop the rapid spread of the virus is certainly behind skyrocketing egg costs.
What’s changed over the years is that the virus is now much more common in the populations of wild birds, many of which are migratory, experts say.
“When you lose chickens, you lose eggs — I think we all know how that part works — and this is why egg prices are going up so much,” he said.
The New York City Health Department has told exposed individuals to monitor for signs of illness.
