On Tuesday, the Delaware County Public Health Services received its first confirmed flock case of H5N1, commonly known as the avian flu or “bird flu.”
Delaware County Public Health Services reports an affected flock of 150 chickens, geese and ducks.
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, or USDA, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or APHIS, are assisting on-site with depopulation, cleaning and disinfection of the affected farm.
According to the Health Services Department, contact with the flocks was limited to the owner.
Individuals without direct contact with sick animals are considered at low risk for avian influenza.
According to Delaware County, there are no known cases involving domestic pets; however, keeping pets away from dead birds or animals is advisable.
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has begun implementing new testing requirements for all poultry entering New York’s live bird markets as part of its aggressive, proactive response to the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or the bird flu.
This additional measure follows the state’s temporary shutdown of 82 live bird markets on February 7 to facilitate a break in HPAI virus transmission within the markets and further protect animal and public health.
All live bird markets that had previously been closed have been cleaned, sanitized, and inspected and are now reopened.
The state reminds farmers to follow good biosecurity measures and emphasizes that the risk to humans remains low.
“This new Notice and Order requiring that poultry be tested prior to entering live bird markets in New York State is a common-sense next step to protect animal and human health as we continue to monitor for avian influenza in New York’s poultry as well as our livestock,” said Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball.
“Following multiple detections of HPAI in live bird markets earlier this month, which resulted in a precautionary temporary shut down and cleaning for a majority of these markets, this Notice and Order strives to get at the source of the virus and prevent it from entering our live bird market system in the first place.”
Specifically, the new regulations requires the following:
For purposes of moving poultry into a live bird market, all poultry shall only originate and move from a source flock, in which a minimum of 30 birds, or all birds for flocks less than 30 birds, aged seven days or older, have tested negative for avian influenza.
All avian influenza testing must be conducted at a National Animal Health Laboratory Network laboratory.
“The risk of avian influenza to humans remains low,” said New York State Health Commissioner James McDonald.
“This increased bio surveillance is a proactive measure that will further protect livestock workers and the public, as we remain vigilant to keep the threat of avian influenza at bay.”
On February 7, Governor Hochul announced the temporary shutdown of 82 live bird markets in New York City and Westchester, Suffolk, and Nassau counties.
Since then, all live bird markets have undergone cleaning and disinfection and have been inspected for reopening.
There were no additional detections of HPAI.
To report sick birds, unexplained high number of deaths, or sudden drop in egg production, please contact Ag & Markets’ Division of Animal Industry at (518) 457-3502 or the USDA at (866) 536-7593.
While there have been no detections of HPAI in livestock in New York to-date, the state’s comprehensive approach is aimed at ensuring the state remains free of HPAI and facilitating early detection.
In response to the findings of HPAI in multiple states across the country, New York State is participating in USDA’s National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS) to facilitate surveillance for HPAI within the nation’s milk supply and dairy herds.
If a detection is found, state inspectors will conduct additional verification sampling and testing, with traceback to the impacted farm if the sample is confirmed positive for HPAI.
According to USDA and the FDA, pasteurized milk and pasteurized dairy products remain safe to consume as pasteurization kills harmful microbes and pathogens in milk and there is also no concern regarding the consumption of properly cooked meat products.