Mayor Adams Announces City Health Department Precautions After Birds Test Positive for Bird flu

February 12, 2025

No Person in New York State Has Tested Positive for Bird Flu 

Current Risk of H5N1 to New Yorkers Remains Low 

City Health Department Providing Support for Exposed Live Bird Market Staff 

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Acting Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse today announced additional steps New York City is taking — out of an abundance of caution — after birds in the city tested positive for H5N1, a type of avian influenza, also known as bird flu. Multiple birds have tested positive for H5N1 in New York City at parks and zoos in addition to the positive cases at live bird markets last week. The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation is testing dead birds found in public parks for the virus.

The risk to New Yorkers remains low. There have been no human cases of H5N1 in New York City or elsewhere in the state, and no human-to-human transmission has been detected from H5N1 anywhere in the United States. A small number of agricultural workers with close contact with infected animals in other parts of the country have tested positive H5N1. New Yorkers who spot a sick or dead bird should maintain a safe distance and report the sighting. For poultry, call the New York state Department of Agriculture and Markets at (518) 457-3502. For wild birds, report online to the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation.   

“While birds in New York City have tested positive for the H5N1 virus, I want to assure New Yorkers that the risk to humans at this time remains low,” said Mayor Adams. “There are currently no reported cases of bird flu in humans in our city or state, and our health officials are working closely with the state to ensure this continues to be the case. We are taking all the proper precautions to contain this virus and limit its spread.”  

“The current risk to New Yorkers of bird flu remains low,” said DOHMH Acting Commissioner Dr. Morse. “We have not seen avian influenza develop the ability to transmit between people. The Department of Health will continue to work closely with the state Department of Agriculture and state Department of Health to ensure that live bird market staff exposed to sick birds receive essential information and receive treatment. We are prepared to respond to disease outbreaks, including quickly ramping up testing and treatment, and working closely with providers and community partners to rapidly disseminate accurate information.”  

On Friday, February 7, 2025, live bird markets were shut down by New York state Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Notice and Order for live bird markets. The order requires those markets where bird flu was not detected to sell all inventory, complete cleaning and disinfection procedures, and remain closed for three to five days after H5N1 was detected in birds at seven markets in Bronx, Kings, and Queens counties, as well as at markets in Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties. The shutdowns are temporary.  

A collaborative effort across local and state agencies is underway to ensure New Yorkers remain safe. DOHMH is working closely with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York state Department of Agriculture and Markets, and the New York state Department of Health to monitor the situation. DOHMH is communicating with workers at affected markets in New York City where H5N1 has been detected to provide guidance to staff on monitoring for symptoms. DOHMH is offering testing and Tamiflu, an antiviral drug, to any staff of a live bird market, even if they are asymptomatic, at no cost and regardless of immigration status.  

How New Yorkers Should Protect Themselves Against Bird Flu: 

• Wear recommended personal protection equipment (PPE), such as gloves, facemasks, eye protection, and coveralls, when handling poultry. Carefully take off PPE and throw it away after each use. 
• Wash hands often with soap and warm water, especially after touching birds or surfaces that could be infected. Avoid contact with surfaces with bird feces. 
• Avoid eating, drinking, or smoking in areas where birds are being handled. 
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth after touching birds or surfaces that came into contact with birds. 
• If handling dead birds is necessary, wear PPE, place the birds in a triple-bagged garbage bag, dispose of PPE properly, and immediately wash hands well with soap and water. Additionally, change any clothes while handling dead birds and wash them after disposal of the bird. 
• Follow food safety guidelines. Handle poultry and eggs safely and cook them to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.  
• Do not consume raw milk or raw milk products. 
• Get the annual flu vaccine. 
• If an individual is experiencing symptoms and has had close contact with an infected bird or someone who tested positive for bird flu, they should consult with their doctor to see if they should be tested. 
• Do not feed cats raw food diets or raw milk, and prevent them from roaming outdoors where they may hunt wild birds or other animals. 

DOHMH is prepared to respond to disease outbreaks, including vaccination, testing, and treatment, as appropriate, and is working closely with providers and community partners to rapidly disseminate accurate information. DOHMH is communicating with affected live bird markets and providing guidance to staff on self-monitoring for symptoms. Live bird market workers should carefully monitor their health for 10 days after their last exposure to birds for symptoms, including headaches, cough, fever, shortness of breath, and more.   

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