- Updated: Feb. 26, 2025, 4:37 p.m.
- |Published: Feb. 26, 2025, 2:08 p.m.
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A case of bird flu was discovered at a live bird market in Union County, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture announced Friday, marking the first positive bird blu case among domestic poultry in New Jersey since 2023.
The case was identified in test samples collected on Feb. 19 that were submitted and tested at the New Jersey Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory as part of routine surveillance.
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The live poultry market, which was not identified by officials, has been quarantined and will undergo a thorough cleaning and disinfection to eliminate the virus within the facility, state officials said. The facility will remain temporarily closed before being restocked and reopened.
“The risk of HPAI to the general public remains low and no poultry were sold to the public that may have been infected,” according to the press release.
The news comes one month after the country’s first bird flu death and amid sightings of dozens of dead waterfowl in New Jersey parks throughout the state suspected to have died of bird flu. The resurgence began in December, according to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, and is believed to be impacting various species of wild birds in all counties, including but not limited to waterfowl, raptors, and scavenger birds.
The H5N1 strain of bird flu is currently widespread in wild birds worldwide, according to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s wild bird surveillance program. The virus, which has been detected in all 50 states, is also causing outbreaks in poultry flocks and U.S. dairy cows, particularly in western states, according to surveillance data.
The CDC has also reported over 60 human cases of bird flu related to individuals who had close contact with infected livestock or poultry since 2024.
As of Wednesday, there have been no reported cases of H5N1 bird flu in humans or cattle in New Jersey. And although bird flu is spreading in the U.S., the CDC has yet to identify any person-to-person transmission. As with the patient in Louisiana, most bird flu infections are the result of animal-to-human exposures.
“The overall threat is quite low,” said Dr. David J. Cennimo, an associate professor of medicine and pediatrics in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
“We haven’t really seen the hallmarks of what would turn into a pandemic, the human-to-human transmission,” Cennimo told NJ Advance Media. “We’re not at the spot yet where it looks imminent, but I think it’s important that we maintain vigilance and we try to prevent the spread.”
The bird flu spreads through contact with bodily secretions from infected birds, including feces, ocular, nasal, or oral secretions. It can also spread via vehicles, equipment and shoes.
Other potential sources include manure, contaminated vehicles, equipment, egg flats and poultry transport crates, according to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Due to the ongoing outbreak, New Jersey farmers have been asked to take steps to prevent infection.
“New Jersey farm owners and farm workers should be aware of the risks and monitor dairy cattle, domestic poultry, other livestock, farm pets, and farm workers for signs of illness,” said State Veterinarian Amar Patil in a December letter to New Jersey dairy producers. “Clinical signs of H5N1 bird flu in dairy cattle may include decreased appetite, drop in milk production, thickened colostrum-like milk, abnormal feces, dehydration, lethargy, and fever.”
In chickens and turkeys, bird flu may cause the animal to become very quiet, not eat or drink, have diarrhea, incur swelling, and experience discolored combs and feet. Birds may also die suddenly without any signs of disease, according to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health.
Wild birds, especially migratory waterfowl such as ducks and geese, are carriers of the virus and can pass the disease along while appearing perfectly healthy.
Domestic house cats are also susceptible to bird flu, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
To protect yourself from the bird flu:
- Avoid direct contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry, and other animals.
- If you must have close contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry, or other animals, wear personal protective equipment.
- Do not touch surfaces or materials contaminated with saliva, mucous, or animal feces from wild or domestic birds or other animals with confirmed or suspected bird flu.
- Do not touch or consume raw milk or raw milk products.
- Properly cook poultry and eggs.
- Keep bird feeders away from the home.
People who have had unprotected contact with infected birds should monitor themselves for symptoms for 10 days following their last exposure. If symptoms such fever, cough, eye redness and body aches develop, individuals should see a healthcare provider.
If you encounter sick or dead wild birds, report the finding to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Fish and Wildlife hotline at 1-877-WARN-DEP or 1-877-927-6337.
If you suspect bird flu in livestock, please alert the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Health at 609-671-6400.
If you suspect bird flu in a human, contact the local health department.
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