Zoos in New York facing bird flu threats, Queens Zoo charts 3 positive cases

• New York’s zoos are facing a new threat as officials investigate whether the deaths of over a dozen birds were caused by bird flu. Three ducks at the Queens Zoo have already tested positive, with more tests pending for other birds in the Bronx.
• Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an order closing live poultry markets for disinfection until Friday.
• The CDC reports over 150 million poultry have been affected by bird flu in the U.S., with 68 human cases, including one fatality.

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New York’s zoos are facing new concerns after the state’s governor temporarily shut down live poultry markets in an effort to curb the spread of bird flu. Officials are now monitoring the potential impact on wildlife, with several birds in the city’s zoos already testing positive for the virus.

Bird deaths under investigation

Officials are awaiting lab results to confirm whether more than a dozen bird deaths at New York City’s zoos were caused by the bird flu. At the Queens Zoo, the Wildlife Conservation Society reported three ducks tested positive for the virus, with tests still pending for another 12 birds. These include both zoo residents and wild birds, that may have been exposed, at the Bronx Zoo.

In response, zoo officials moved the most vulnerable species into protected areas to prevent further exposure to the virus.

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Gov. Kathy Hochul takes action

Last week, Gov. Kathy Hochul, D, signed an order to temporarily close markets selling live birds until Friday, Feb. 14, for a disinfection process. Once sellers confirm that there are no signs or traces of bird flu, they can contact New York’s Department of Agriculture to reopen.

New York City officials said this is a proactive step to address the virus, which was first detected earlier this month in the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn. The decision coincides with an ongoing bird flu outbreak affecting farmers’ poultry across the state.

The CDC reports more than 150 million poultry, including chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys, have been affected by the virus across the U.S. In total, 68 people have contracted bird flu, with one death linked to the virus.

Both the CDC and New York health officials have said the threat to the general public remains low at this time.