After seven cases of avian flu were detected in New York City, state officials ordered live bird markets in the metropolitan area to close for a week as a precautionary measure. Governor Kathy Hochul stated that there was no immediate threat to public health, but the closure was necessary to ensure the safety of residents. The infected birds were found during routine inspections in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens.
The markets were instructed to sell off all remaining poultry, clean and disinfect the premises, and remain closed for at least five days before reopening. Employees at La Granja, a halal-certified poultry market in Harlem, rushed to sell their inventory, including 200 live chickens, turkeys, quail, ducks, roosters, pigeons, and rabbits.
While the CDC has stated the virus poses low risk to the general public, there have been 67 confirmed cases of bird flu in humans in the U.S., mostly among farmworkers exposed to sick animals. Despite the growing attention on avian flu, New York City’s poultry markets were busy with customers purchasing fresh poultry.
Some animal rights groups criticized the state order for allowing markets to continue selling fowl, raising concerns about potential outbreaks and infected birds being brought into homes. U.S. egg prices are expected to remain high due to the avian flu outbreak, along with increased consumer demand and other supply constraints.
Overall, the closure of live poultry markets in New York City highlights the ongoing challenges posed by avian flu outbreaks, with officials working to ensure public safety and prevent the spread of the virus among both animals and humans.
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